Jake Hill thrilled by Brands Hatch podium

Jake Hill admitted he was delighted by securing a podium finish for the second successive season in the opening rounds of the BTCC season at Brands Hatch.

Hill would be one of the starts of the weekend on his debut at the wheel of one of the two Trade Price Cars Racing Audi S3s, running consistently towards the sharp end of the field.

Having qualified 15th, Hill used a slick tyre gamble to storm through the field to second in race one, matching his best result in the series to date and snaring the best finish for the Audi in the series.

Even with additional weight onboard, Hill then finished fourth in race two and was well placed to snare another top ten in race three before contact with Ash Sutton forced him to retire.

However, he now finds himself sitting sixth in the standings ahead of Donington Park later this month.

“It’s been a great way to start the season and I have to say a huge thank you to everyone in the Trade Price Cars Racing team for their work,” he said. “To come away from Brands Hatch with a podium finish is fantastic and has given us something to build on.

“The opening race was similar to last year with the call on the tyres and we got it spot on. Slicks was certainly the right way to go and when the conditions came to us, the Audi was mega and I could pick people off and work my way forwards.

“Race two was a surprise because the car held on really well with the extra weight onboard and then we were showing mega pace again in race three before someone got a bit greedy and we were caught up in an incident that ended things abruptly.

“We haven’t come into the season aiming for the championship, but we head away from Brands Hatch with some good points on the board and will aim to carry this momentum into Donington Park next time out.”