Hill already sets sights on defending Touring Car crown
Jake Hill from Tunbridge Wells is the first Kent driver to win the BTCC at Brands Hatch in more than 60 years.
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After winning his maiden British Touring Car Championship in a thrilling finale, Kent driver Jake Hill has already set his sights on defending his crown at the first attempt.
The 30-year-old claimed the BTCC title on his home track at Brands Hatch on Sunday after a dramatic final round which saw Hill go into the last race of the season with a one point advantage over 2022 champion Tom Ingram.
A downpour ahead of the season finale added to the tension but the West Surrey Racing driver held his nerve, despite being overtaken by the Hyundai i30 racer in the early stages having started a place ahead of Ingram on the grid.
The BMW driver soon got to grips with the conditions on the Grand Prix circuit and eventually worked his way through the field, overhauling Ingram on the fifth lap.
He eventually finished in second spot, good enough to secure the title by eight points 鈥 his first championship in any class.
'Repaying all the sacrifices'
Jake Hill aims for further success after winning maiden BTCC title
鈥淚t is literally everything we have worked for in the last 15 years 鈥 that鈥檚 how long I have been racing now. It was always the goal to try and win the British Touring Car Championship,鈥 Hill told 成人论坛 South East Today.
鈥淎ll the sacrifices, all the hard work, everything my family has put in, you finally feel like that relief and that repayment has been made.鈥
Hill began racing in cadet karts at the age of eight and has competed in the BTCC since 2016, finishing in third in 2022 and 2023 before reaching the top of the podium this time around.
鈥淚t was a massive surreal moment when you are on top of that podium and the confetti is going off 鈥 it鈥檚 definitely a moment for life.
鈥淭he afterparty was fairly heavy, but worth it. If you can鈥檛 put all the graft in all year and not celebrate with your team afterwards then what鈥檚 it all about?鈥
Bromley鈥檚 Doc Shepherd was the last Kent driver to land the BTCC at Brands Hatch in 1960 while Hill is the first racer from the county to win the title since Tim Harvey in 1992.
Having taken the laurels for the first time, Hill said he was keen to repeat the feat next season, adding: 鈥淢y plan is definitely to return and defend the title.
鈥淲e have got to see if we can make that possible. For now some time off, time with the family, reset and go again.鈥