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Jake Hill dominates Super Touring Power at Brands Hatch as former British Touring Car Championship stars turn out

19:26, 03 July 2023

updated: 12:17, 05 July 2023

Jake Hill swept the board in the first Super Touring Power event at Brands Hatch, overcoming a gearbox issue on his way to winning all four races.

The current British Touring Car Championship star handled Laurent Aiello's 1999 title-winning Nissan Primera at the meeting, which featured a strong entry of 20 cars.

Hill leads the Super Tourer pack through Paddock. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Hill leads the Super Tourer pack through Paddock. Picture: Simon Hildrew

Hill, of Platt's Heath near Maidstone, qualified second for the first Super Tourers Championship race on Saturday but powered around the outside of pole-sitter Stewart Whyte (Honda Accord) at Paddock Hill Bend to grab the lead on the opening lap.

From then on he rarely looked back, winning both races on the Grand Prix circuit on Saturday before repeating the feat on the Indy configuration on Sunday.

Whyte made the best start to the fourth race, outdragging Hill into Paddock Hill Bend, but a mistake at Clearways at the end of the first lap dropped the Scotsman out of contention.

Hill, who was driving one of three Nissan Primeras owned by Richard Wheeler, was the only current BTCC driver on the grid at the event, which attracted five entries from New Zealand.

"I've absolutely loved it, a huge thank you to Richard Wheeler for allowing me to drive it," the 29-year-old said.

Hill celebrating with Richard Wheeler, former BTCC star Anthony Reid and the rest of the John Danby Racing crew. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Hill celebrating with Richard Wheeler, former BTCC star Anthony Reid and the rest of the John Danby Racing crew. Picture: Simon Hildrew
As well as Hill, former BTCC champions Alain Menu and TIm Harvey featured on the Super Touring Power interview stage. Picture: Simon Hildrew
As well as Hill, former BTCC champions Alain Menu and TIm Harvey featured on the Super Touring Power interview stage. Picture: Simon Hildrew
The Super Tourer drivers paid tribute to Team Dynamics founder Steve Neal, who has died at the age of 82. They are pictured with the ex-Matt Neal Nissan Primera, which was wheeled to the front of the grid on Sunday. Picture: Simon Hildrew
The Super Tourer drivers paid tribute to Team Dynamics founder Steve Neal, who has died at the age of 82. They are pictured with the ex-Matt Neal Nissan Primera, which was wheeled to the front of the grid on Sunday. Picture: Simon Hildrew

"I've just completed a childhood dream. To drive one is cool but to win four races at Brands in one is even more special.

"We had a little gearbox issue on Saturday - an odd issue where it kept jumping from third to fourth gear - but the guys did a mega job with the car.

"We've had a great turnout of Super Tourers, especially with the Kiwis coming over, and hopefully MSV [the owners of Brands Hatch] can expand on this for next year."

Hill entered the meeting fresh from enjoying his best-ever weekend in the BTCC at Oulton Park, where a set-up change helped him claim two victories and a second-place finish in his BMW 330e M-Sport.

"We definitely unlocked something at Oulton - the car felt amazing - and it's now time to build on that at the Donington Goodyear tyre test on Tuesday," Hill said.

Hill won all four races in the 1999 Nissan Primera. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Hill won all four races in the 1999 Nissan Primera. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Hill tested the car at Donington Park before dominating Super Touring Power at Brands Hatch. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Hill tested the car at Donington Park before dominating Super Touring Power at Brands Hatch. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Former BTCC star Paul Radisich, left, and double Bathurst 1000 winner Steven Richards travelled from New Zealand to compete in the Super Tourers. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Former BTCC star Paul Radisich, left, and double Bathurst 1000 winner Steven Richards travelled from New Zealand to compete in the Super Tourers. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Hill with dad Simon, who was racing in the Renault Spider series in 1999 when Laurent Aiello won the BTCC crown. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Hill with dad Simon, who was racing in the Renault Spider series in 1999 when Laurent Aiello won the BTCC crown. Picture: Simon Hildrew

"We're going to explore a bit more about what we learnt, and try to get a bit more of an understanding about it, so we can go into the second half of the year as strong as we can.

"We've just got to keep going."

Hill currently sits third in the standings, 26 points shy of championship leader Ash Sutton, who took part in a demonstration run at Brands Hatch on Sunday in his NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus.

Yalding’s Ian Curley enjoyed some great battles with Grant Williams (Jaguar Mk1) in the Pre-66 races, twice finishing second overall. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Yalding’s Ian Curley enjoyed some great battles with Grant Williams (Jaguar Mk1) in the Pre-66 races, twice finishing second overall. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Rod Birley, from West Kingsdown, scored a third and fourth in class in the Classic Thunder races on Saturday in his BMW E36. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Rod Birley, from West Kingsdown, scored a third and fourth in class in the Classic Thunder races on Saturday in his BMW E36. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Alex Sidwell, from Maidstone, scored an outright win in the Classic Thunder races in his Holden Commodore. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Alex Sidwell, from Maidstone, scored an outright win in the Classic Thunder races in his Holden Commodore. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Former Motorbase Performance team owner David Bartrum debuted his Ford Sierra RS500 in the Blue Oval Saloons. Picture: Simon Hildrew
Former Motorbase Performance team owner David Bartrum debuted his Ford Sierra RS500 in the Blue Oval Saloons. Picture: Simon Hildrew

The next BTCC round will be held at Croft in North Yorkshire on July 29-30, with the Brands Hatch Grand Prix loop hosting the season finale on October 7-8.

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