Jake Hill will make his historic Racing debut this weekend, in a switch from his usual Touring Car exploits in the British Touring Car Championship.

The 22 year-old BRDC Rising Star Jake will join 18 year-old Jack Rawles at Silverstone  in a 60 minute Classic Sports Car Club (CSCC) Mintex Classic K event,  racing in Bill Rawles Classic Cars immaculate white and blue 1962 Austin Healey 3000 Mk2 (above).

Hill who  usually races a Toyota Avensis for RCIB Insurance Racing in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship has been coaching racing novices Mel Streek and Chris Anderson in their ex-Patrick Watts Mustang so has a little bit of experience driving classic sportscars, but is relishing the thought of joining Jack on board the Healey this weekend.

“I coached Jack when he started racing in Ginetta Juniors and we’ve been good friends ever since and I got to know Bill and Rose (Jack’s parents) well back then. Then unfortunately Bill had a nasty accident working at home and injured his foot pretty seriously so of course can’t drive at the moment, so they asked me to join Jack and I can’t wait! My BTCC car has about 330bhp so quite similar to the Healey but of course this has totally different tyres, drum brakes, a manual gearbox – which I love by the way – and is really raw. I won’t get to drive it until qualifying but I think we’ll be ok” smiled Jake.

Rawles made a sensational debut himself last year racing the Healey in the prestigious Healey International event at Castle Combe, where as the youngest driver in the event he qualified on Pole Position, finished second with fastest lap and also won Driver of the Day.

“That was fantastic, drivers come from all over Europe and all are really top guys with some fantastic equipment. So to get Pole and fastest lap and become the youngest ever podium finisher, plus be voted Driver of the Day was superb. I’m really looking forward to driving with Jake, he’s quick and has fantastic technique so I think we should be in with a good chance of challenging for the class win, but it’s really competitive” said Jack.

The pair will share the car during a 30 minute qualifying session where Hill will drive the car for the first time, then race later that day in a one hour race, competing not only against   Streek and Anderson but other Mustangs, Cobra and TVR plus another Healey.

“It’s gonna be mega fun – especially if it rains! I’m really grateful to Bill and Jack for the chance to race with them so I’m gonna give it my best but respect the machinery”