Jake Hill takes the Championship lead at Donington Park
Jake Hill of Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport reclaimed the top spot in the British Touring Car Championship standings after a stellar weekend at Donington Park GP, securing two third-place finishes and a fifth.
The weekend kicked off in wet conditions, with persistent rain during the opening practice session where Jake managed 12th place. The track began to dry out in the second session, allowing him to improve his position to sixth, setting the stage for a crucial qualifying run.
Qualifying saw the LTR driver lock in a solid seventh-place starting position for Sunday's first race, narrowly missing the 'Quick Six' by just 0.071 seconds. Despite the setback, he set a strong foundation for race day.
Starting from the fourth row in his WSR-run BMW 330e M Sport in Race 1, Jake quickly capitalised on the chaos ahead. He passed three cars, including his main championship rival, Ingram, to secure fourth place. Pressuring Cook for third, Hill seized the opportunity when Cook clipped a barrier, allowing him to claim the final podium spot.
In the second race, he maintained his third-place start, driving a controlled race behind Turkington and Sutton. Although Ingram briefly overtook him, Hill regained third after Ingram suffered mechanical issues, marking his 11th podium of the season and extending his lead in the championship to nine points over Sutton.
The reverse grid for the final race saw Hill start from ninth. In a chaotic showdown, he skillfully navigated the field to finish fifth, solidifying his lead as the series heads into the final two race weekends.
Jake Hill commented: "It was a tough weekend for me physically as I battled illness from the opening session but we persevered for some great results and depart Donington with the championship lead which was the main goal! Considering we started race one in seventh, making good progress throughout the races and staying out of trouble has rewarded us with strong points and the lead in the standings. It's still so tight at the top of the standings, and things can swing so quickly so we need to stay consistent and deliver our full potential every time we hit the track for the remaining two rounds! Thank you to all of the team at Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport and WSR for their huge effort this weekend, just a nice consistent weekend of getting points - and of course a big thank you for all the support as always, it's really appreciated!"
With a nine-point advantage, Hill is now in prime position as the championship moves to Silverstone on September 21-22, with the highly anticipated season finale at Brands Hatch on October 5-6.
