Fresh from his debut with Era Motorsport in their sleek Ferrari 296GT3 machine in Dubai, Jake Hill looked to build on a strong maiden showing as the Creventic Middle East Trophy took the short trip to the spectacular Yas Marina Circuit, home of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009.
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The 2024 British Touring Car Champion joined Dwight Merriman and Kyle Tilley in the 6 hour event, his first time at the remarkable 3.28 mile and 16 turn venue, and relishing the chance to build on the experience of the Dubai 24 Hours.
“I had an incredible time last week in Dubai – my first ever 24 Hour race and first in a GT3 car, and we were really pleased with the team performance, and I was so pleased with the pace I was able to show. So this weekend is a very different challenge, obviously much more of a ‘Sprint’ race and such an amazing venue. I am absolutely stunned by the circuit, the facilities and the atmosphere, and know we will all learn a lot this weekend”
Practice on Thursday and Friday gave Hill and the team some all-important data as both Merriman and Hill were learning the circuit, with Tilley having raced in the Gulf 12 Hours the previous December.
Qualifying on Saturday afternoon saw all three drivers required to set a time, all sharing the same set of Michelin tyres, and with the fuel load set at the beginning of the session, meaning Merriman who drove first as the team’s Amateur Driver, has the best of the tyres but the most fuel, with Tilley next and finally Hill with less fuel but also less grip from the tyres.
“We each have 15 minutes on track – firstly Dwight, then Kyle and finally me – then they take an average of our times and that sets our grid slot, so it requires all of us to be at our best and ‘on it’ from he beginning”
After Merriman had set 10th fastest time in the Pro Am class, Tilley then improving and setting an excellent 8th in Pro Am before Hill took the Purple, Blue and Black Ferrari out for his final session.
Despite heavy traffic, Hill managed to set a superb 3rd in the Pro Am class, and 5th overall, with the combined times seeing the No.81 car start P22 overall.
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“Happy with that. Traffic cost us all time in our respective sessions, but that was always going to be a factor with 60 cars on track – great job by Dwight and Kyle and of course the whole Era Motorsport crew”
Hill was nominated to take the 10.30am start, and as the huge grid blasted into action he was immediately making progress, so much so that by the end of the first lap he was already up to P11 overall from his P22 start.
Continuing to make excellent progress, Hill passed car after car, and at the end of the first hour ran P3 overall and took the lead of the Pro Am class, now just 17 seconds behind the leading Mercedes GT, and as the cars ahead took their fuel stops Hill remarkably now took the lead of the race overall.
“The car just came alive in the race. It’s the best it’s been all weekend, and felt like it was getting stronger all the time. I think I pulled off a few ‘Touring Car’ overtaking moves to make up some places, so bringing the car back in the lead and in good shape for Dwight felt really special”
Merriman continued the job superbly, handing the car over to Tilley at around half distance, the Era Motorsport team owner lapping quickly and consistently until just over the four hour mark where it became clear there was a problem as the lap times increased, and the car was forced to pit.
As the team investigated, it appeared that low fuel pressure was the issue, something that was later identified as a problem with the high-pressure fuel pump, and forcing the team to change their strategy.
Tilley completed his session despite having to make additional stops to fill the car with fuel to help the fuel pressure issue, with Hill taking over and just focusing on bringing the car home, which despite more fuel stops he managed to get the car home in 25th overall and P11 in the Pro Am class.
“Such a shame, we had all done the job to get right in the mix – all three of us plus of course the great job in the pits by the whole team, I think we would have had a really solid finish, maybe even a Pro Am podium, but the fuel pressure issue just cost us way too much time. We always knew these two events would be a steep learning curve, and we as a group have made so much progress. A big thanks to Dwight, Kyle and the whole Era Motorsport crew for two amazing weekends, I will remember them forever”
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The cars and equipment will now be flown back to Era’s UK base in Wiltshire, and from here the team will head to Montmelo in Spain next month for two days testing, after which come the five events at European venues, starting on 21st and 22nd March at the historic Mugello Circuit in Tuscany.
“It’s going to be so exciting racing at tracks I know with Dwight and Kyle – we have three 12 Hour races together including Mugello plus Spa-Francorchamps and Paul Ricard, then another 24 Hour race at Barcelona in September to round off the series. Unfortunately the race at Misano in May clashes with my race in BTCC at Snetterton so I will miss that one, but I am really, really looking forward to continuing my GT journey with Era soon”
Hill will head to much colder climes in early February as he joins the Ice Drive Sweden team driving on frozen lakes, something that has become an early season tradition and of real value to his preparation for his BTCC season.
“I love heading out to join the team on the Ice – so much fun and really helps your car control – but it will be a bit of a shock having just come from two races in the warmth of the Middle East!”
Testing for the 2025 BTCC season will start in March, with Hill also likely to test various Historic Machines ahead of another busy season.
“It gets busier every year, but I absolutely love the variety and know just how lucky I am. And I cannot wait to get back in my ‘Laser Beamer’ BTCC machine with ‘No.1’ on the side – it will be really, really special”
Images courtesy of Creventic Series