Rising star Jake Hill will be taking to the track next week as he gets the opportunity to test the AmD Tuning.Com’s Ford Focus at Snetterton.
The 20-year-old will be testing the Ford that Dave Newsham usually races in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champhionship.
Hill is no stranger to the Touring car grid having raced in the Jack Sears Trophy class and also for Exocet Racing.
He made a winning debut in the Jack Series Trophy class of the BTCC at Croft last year in Motorbase Performance’s Ford Focus ST, then impressed at Brands Hatch in the series finale racing in the Exocet Racing Audi A4 with Rob Austin, and is working hard on a full-time return to the series.
Speaking about the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a BTCC car again, Jake said: “Shaun gave me my first ever run in a BTCC car back in 2011 when I shook down the S2000 Golf for him, and also supported me in my Ginetta GT Supercup campaign, so it’s great that he has again gone out of his way to give me a run in the car.
“Dave (Newsham) will drive most of the day – so a big thanks to him too for giving up some of the day for me – but I will get a decent run on Tuesday afternoon, so it’s great to sample the car and remind everyone that I am here and as determined as ever to be part of the series.
AmD team boss Shaun Hollamby feels that Hill would be a worthy addition to the BTCC on a consistent basis.
He said: “Jake has impressed me from the outset. He’s still won more Ginetta Junior races than anyone and has won in pretty much every series he’s been in.”
“It’s good to give young drivers a break, which is what we did in 2011. There’s no doubt in my mind that Jake is one of the most promising young driver’s in the country, as so often is the way it’s all about budget, but I have no doubt if he’s out there regularly he will doubtlessly succeed.”
Hill missed out on a BTCC seat this season, despite being close to deals with two teams. He raced in the Porsche Carrera Cup season opener at Brands Hatch, finishing on the podium in both races, and has since taken part in four races in the Atom Cup, winning all of them.
He is also tutoring Esmee Hawkey as she prepares for her debut season in the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2015.