Kent’s Jake Hill has revealed how the past 24 hours have been crazy after a whirlwind of events for the BTCC star.
With the announcement on Tuesday that he had been inducted into the prestigious British Racing Driver’s Club (BRDC) ‘Superstars’ programme for 2020, followed by one of the most significant developments in recent British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) history, that F1 Star and Le Mans winner Mark Blundell has formed MB Motorsport to head Hill’s BTCC team, the Kent-based 25 year-old has hailed the level of interest and interaction in the past 24 hours as ‘completely crazy!’
‘Of course Shaun (Hollamby, MB Motorsport Team Principal) had told us that this deal was progressing, but to see this finally all come together is so exciting, and will see the team move onto a whole-new level. I absolutely loved working with Mark last year, learned so much, and of course have been very close to Shaun and the rest of the team for many years now. I am determined to put every possible effort in both on and off track, and look forward to seeing what Sam (Osborne) and me can do in what has made a Championship-winning package even stronger still.’
Being chosen as one of only 13 young drivers, and only one of 2 BTCC drivers (alongside former champion Ashley Sutton) for the BRDC Superstars came as a welcome surprise, and one that holds huge importance to Hill.
‘I was chosen as a BRDC ‘Rising Star’ ten years ago when I was doing really well in Ginetta Junior, and was proud to be part of that programme right up until last year, when I was eligible to become a full BRDC member. I’ve been asked what being included in the ‘Superstars’ programme entails – apart from the PR and Media value, the development of my fitness and my mental application, the unbelievable contacts within the sport via this programme, it means that you have been recognised as one of the very best of your generation. We have had many seasons in the last ten years where we only did a few races or couldn’t complete a season as it’s been really tough, and sometimes impossible to raise the necessary budget. One thing though is that I have had so much belief, support and love from my family and friends and some great supporters like Shaun over the years, I have always believed in myself and refused to give up. I am now proud to have so many amazing partners, some fantastic opportunities not just in BTCC but Historic and Classic racing, that I know we can build on the hard work and persistence to make MB Motorsport, the BRDC and everyone else who has given me a chance proud and pleased that they did’
Hill will begin testing early in March, and is confident that the team can build on it’s 2019 success.
‘I feel I am better prepared, sufficiently experienced and motivated more than I have ever been. We have great people and a very strong technical package, plus the all-important commercial package. I am going for it this year, to get my first outright Pole, more fastest laps and more wins – I scored points at all ten BTCC meetings last year – so I know I can be consistent too, so my mission is to challenge regularly at the front. MB Motorsport will be worth watching!’
Picture supplied by PSP Images.