Jake Hill admits race starts key to Sunday hopes

Jake Hill admits that maximising his starts will be key to his chances of success after qualifying on the second row of the grid at Snetterton.

Hill maintained his strong qualifying form in the BTCC this season to line-up alongside team-mate Colin Turkington on the grid, with the Laser Tools-backed racer setting the fourth best time.

Hill had been the fastest rear-wheel drive car in both free practice sessions and looked set to maintain that record in qualifying before losing his fastest lap to track limits.

“It;’s been pretty hot today and those conditions tend to help us,” he said. “To be P4 is a good result, even though it’s also frustrating for obvious reasons, and we know we have a quick car for tomorrow.

“There was a bit of a panic early on when Nick Halstead dropped oil at Coram and I nearly went off, but the car was consistently quick and we’re in a position to fight.

“The start will be important and we know we’ll get away well so it depends how Ash and Tom get on. We know we’ll struggle to get heat in the tyres early on, but I’m excited to see how things pan out.”