Driver Spotlight: Jake Hill

10th November 2023

Pushing the limits in the BTCC, Jake Hill (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) has produced some fantastic drives over his tenure in the top-flight of British Motorsport.

After a brief karting career, Jake transitioned to cars in 2008, competing in the Ginetta Junior Winter Series. Hill immediately saw success, finishing fourth overall in the series and earning the rookie crown. Continuing this run of form, Hill used his winter series experience to show his prowess in a selection of Ginetta Junior Championship rounds in 2009. Although he did not complete a full campaign, Hill's speed was evident from his performances, racking up multiple victories including back-to-back honours at Brands Hatch.

The 2010 Ginetta Junior Championship would be Hill’s first full year in the championship. The Kent driver would tussle for the title with fellow touring car driver Tom Ingram, who would just beat him to the top step, although Hill would take a remarkable ten victories across the season.

Hill stepped up to more powerful machinery – taking on the Ginetta GT Supercup – where the Tunbridge-Wells born driver would again score big in the championship, securing a staggering 17 podiums in 27 races.

These heroics kept pushing Hill up the ranks, culminating in his BTCC debut in 2013, before joining the championship for a full season in 2016. Several strong performances resulted in his maiden podium at Brands Hatch in 2018, before joining Trade Price Cars alongside former Formula 1 driver Mark Blundell the following year. Alongside Blundell, Hill would finally take his Audi S3 to a maiden victory in a superb lights-to-flag drive at Knockhill.

Cementing a solid partnership, Hill joined Blundell’s fledgling MB Motorsport team in an AmD Tuning-prepared Honda Civic Type R for the 2020 season. Across the year, Hill took six podiums and would just miss out on an illusive victory. Remaining with MB Motorsport – now in a Motorbase Performance run Ford Focus ST for 2021 – Hill hit the ground running, taking a triple podium in the opening event at Thruxton. Continuing on to score points 25 times out of the 30 races and bagging a total of nine podiums, Hill's consistency spotlighted him as a potential candidate for the 2022 title.

In 2022, Hill switched to rear-wheel drive in the West Surrey Racing-prepared BMW 330e M-Sport with ROKiT MB Motorsport. He had a brilliant campaign, fighting for the overall championship right until the dramatic finale at Brands Hatch. The stats say it all, doubling his win total, securing 13 more podiums and a career best 381 championship points. Hill also won the Goodyear Wingfoot Award title for the best qualifying performance and rounded out his best-ever season in third overall.

Remaining with BMW for 2023 and racing under the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport banner, Hill’s speed would not diminish. Hill would get his most BTCC season victories, finishing the campaign on an incredible six wins and tally a total of 12 podiums to once again finish third in the overall standings. Hill's speed, experience and commitment shows why he has over 230 starts and 43 podiums in the UK's premier motorsport series.

Aside from his incredible BTCC career, Hill has also become a household name in historic motorsport. A keen racing fan, from a keen racing family, Jake has taken multiple victories in numerous classic machinery with single-seater, GT and Touring Car outings at the likes of Goodwood and his beloved Brands Hatch.

BTCC.net © 2024
Follow us
Developed by BBGMedia Home
menu