Jake Hill and his AmD Tuning team came so close to a top three finish in the latest round of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship last weekend.

The Brands Hatch Grands Prix circuit played host to the latest round of the series, unfortunately the weekend would end in a retirement for Hill and his teammate Graham Coomes after contact forced them into a retirement.

Tyre dramas for Graham Coomes hampered his progress in qualifying, whilst 21 year-old BRDC Rising Star Hill put in a superb lap to qualify third in the Pro session for the GT4 class, the #49 Porsche 997 lining up eighth on the grid for the two-hour race held in warm dry conditions.

A good start and strong opening part of the race saw Coomes lap quickly and consistently and work his way up to sixth before handing over to fellow Kentishman Hill after fifty minutes, and despite a slower stop than planned due to the fuel churn not deploying smoothly, Hill returned to the action in a competitive eighth place.

Soon after a Safety Car period closed up the field and Hill set about working his way forward, gaining places as Walenska stopped and Hodgetts retired.

Charging after Spa-winners Ozzy Racing, Hill caught the black Lotus Evora, pressuring Kershaw and eventually slicing past on the brakes at Clearways.

Next up was championship leader Ross Gunn in the Beechdean Aston Martin, Hill hunting the blue machine down and in a perfectly timed move sliced past braking late into the spectacular Paddock Hill Bend into fifth place.

Ahead Davenport had worked the Tolman Ginetta G55 into the lead ahead of Robinson’s similar car, with Academy Motorsport’s Dennis Strandberg close behind in third.

Lapping quickly and smoothly Hill gradually caught the Silver Aston who was in turn challenging Robinson.

After stalking the Swedish driver and forcing him to drive an ever-more defensive race, Hill got a superb run up the hill into Druids Hairpin, edging alongside on the brakes. However, Strandberg turned in and the pair clashed, both spinning and the Porsche picking up damage to the wheel and suspension, and then the radiator when Strandberg drove into the front of the car whilst recovering.

Ultimately it ended a superb drive from Hill, who felt confident he would have challenged Robinson for second place had he completed the pass for third.

Speaking after the weekend, Hill said: “Graham did a mega job again, and the team gave us a great car all weekend. I had a great dice with Kershaw and Gunn and caught Strandberg quickly. He was defending like mad and I had a mega run into Druids – don’t know if he didn’t see me – but it was a hard hit.

“I’m gutted as I’d worked really hard to get onto him and am certain I would have challenged Robinson. I’m really grateful to Shaun and all the AmD boys for all their work and wanted to reward them with another podium. I also want to thank Sportif Motor Group, Fujifilm, Borderland Fencing, Zynth, JEP Photography and everyone else who made it possible for me to be racing. Roll on Snetterton!”

Images courtesy of www.pspimages.co.uk