Platts Heath’s Jake Hill bounced back from Brands Hatch disappointment with back-to-back wins in the British Touring Car Championship at Snetterton.

The Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport-backed driver failed to shine on home soil last time out, with a retirement, fourth and 12th-placed finishes, but was quickest in qualifying in Norfolk and led every lap of races one and two - the second race being particularly memorable after a masterclass in tyre management following a time penalty for jumping the start.

West Surrey Racing’s Hill was ninth in race three but a haul of 51 points leaves him just 11 off leader Ash Sutton after three rounds.

“What a day it’s been,” said an elated Hill. “I’m absolutely over the moon.

“A win in race one, a win in race two - despite a time penalty - and then in race three we led for nine of the 12 laps after gambling on wet tyres.

“It didn’t quite pay off and we finished ninth, but we still got a huge bag of points so it’s a day to be proud of.”

Having already dominated a fully-dry opening race after his 2min10.620sec qualifying lap, Hill produced arguably the drive of his career.

Given a 10-second penalty for jumping the start, he showed his skills on wet tyres on a drying track and then benefitted from a mid-race shower to build a lead of more than 16 seconds, meaning that even with the penalty applied he still finished six seconds clear.

He led most of race three having taken wet tyres again, but was unable to keep his slick-shod rivals back in the closing stages, with Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Rob Huff taking the chequered flag.

Team principal Dick Bennetts said: “[It was] a great day at Snetterton for Jake with two wins, to follow Colin’s (Turkington’s) two wins at Brands Hatch. We have Colin and Jake within 10 or 11 points of the series lead so it’s all to play for now.”

The championship continues at Thruxton, Hampshire, on June 8-9.