For our final team review of 2024 we have Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, home of course to the new BTCC Drivers’ Champion Jake Hill. The WSR-run squad and Kent racer produced a total of eight victories across the title-winning campaign along with 16 podiums, with Hill being the only driver to stand on the podium for over half of all races this past season.
Hill would set a steady foundation to his triumphant season at a heavily weather-affected Donington Park, with two podiums from the opening two bouts in the campaign’s curtain-raiser at the Leicestershire circuit.
The first trip to the home territory of Brands Hatch then surprisingly proved to be the lowest scoring event of the season for the ‘Laser Beamer’, as the first of two non-score finishes in 2024 would see Hill fall to fourth in the standings.
Snetterton is where everything changed. A dominant qualifying performance would see the BMW star take pole position by 0.805 seconds, the biggest margin across the front row all season. What would follow on the Sunday would be nothing short of champion-worthy.
Race one, a lights to flag first victory of the campaign and a cruise to the top step of the podium. Win number two would not have to wait long. Unfortunately, after a jump start in the second exchange, the #24 would receive a 10-second penalty. Hill’s dominance would reign supreme, however, as he would go on to win the race by 16.260 seconds, eliminating the penalty in the process.
The success continued as Hill would also bring home a fantastic double victory in the opening two bouts at the very next event, Thruxton, completing a run of four wins in five races.
A visit to Croft would be the scene of the final non-score finish of 2024, relinquishing top spot in the standings in the process. The return to Donington Park would see the #24 back on top of the table after scoring the exact same results as the first visit there, with two third place finishes and a fifth.
Incredibly, Hill would be tied at the top with Tom Ingram heading to the season finale at the legendary Brands Hatch GP circuit, as a total of six drivers arrived at the Kent venue in mathematical contention to win the Drivers’ Championship.
Race one, Hill would get ahead after his eighth and final race win of the season as Ingram sat in third. Race two, the gap would fall from five points to just one as the #80 would score his sixth victory of 2024.
It all came down to the final exchange of the year as the weather would roll in one last time. Ingram started the race well, jumping in front of Hill, before the latter started to come alive.
Hill stormed through the field, passing his rival around the outside in outstanding fashion, and a first BTCC Drivers’ title was his.
Jake will be out to defend his crown with WSR in 2025 as he looks to join an illustrious list of back-to-back BTCC champions.
