Jake Hill fulfilled a life long ambition as he won the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch this afternoon.

He did it in front of his friends, family and adoring fans at his home circuit this afternoon. 

Having started the first first race of the day in sixth place. He didn’t make much progress as the race started, but an incident with Josh Cook, Ash Sutton and Tom Ingram. Hill moved up to second and after the safety car pulled in, he moved into the lead. 

Ingram was coming for them though, slicing through the pack up to third. Although he was warned about track limits and his start being investigated after the race. 

With six laps to go Jake did drop the hammer to try and get away from Turkington who was acting as a rear gunner for Hill. He crossed the line to take the victory and the lead of the championship by five points with two races to go in the day. 

Speaking after race one, a delighted Hill said: What a fantastic start to the day. A huge thank you to Colin [Turkington], because he’s the best team-mate I could have ever asked for, a huge thank you to WSR and Laser Tools with MB Motorsport, that’s what teamwork is all about. It was just a case of managing the rear tyres, we may not have the outright pace but we had enough to get the job done. It just fills you with confidence moving forward, we start on pole now for race two, so it’s going to be exciting.”

Race two did see Hill start on pole he was in the lead of the race for about a lap and a bit, before Tom Ingram came past him with an impressive move at Paddock Hill Bend. It was a move that looked on after he overtook Turkington on lap one. 

It was an entertaining race that also saw Ingram bag the fastest lap point to close to one point with a race left to go. In what is the closest finish to a BTCC season in history. Would Hill do it any other way? 

Giving his thoughts after race two, he said: “We’re still there. One point now isn’t it, oh god! We are in for one thrilling last round aren’t we!”

That final race would see Hill start from sixth on the grid after the reverse grid draw. His rival Ingram just one place behind him in seventh.

As the lights went out Hill got away but Ingram got himself up ahead of him in the wet. However crucially he couldn’t get away from Hill. As the BMW started to adapt to the conditions, Hill became more and more racey. 

He took Ingram, then Taylor-Smith and then Josh Cook to get up into second place. Ingram couldn’t quite get up with him and Hill despite a boxer changing slide managed to manage the race in the last few laps to take the chequered flag in second place, flashing his lights as he crossed the line. 

He would finish eight points clear of Ingram in the drivers standings, as the #24in24 achieved his life long ambition.

Reflecting on an amazing achievement Hill said: “2024 BTCC Champion sounds amazing. It just hasn’t sunk in yet, it’s everything I’ve ever wanted and more. I’m overwhelmed, the support has been incredible, I’m speechless. 

“The emotions started to hit me as I made my way to the last corner at Clearways, I was getting a bit teary eyed there – we just brought it home. As we crossed the line it was just an amazing experience.

We’ve had a great race and an amazing weekend, and it happened when I needed it most. It’s made everything worth it; it has been such a fight the last 15 years to even stay on the grid and now we’ve made it happen!”

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