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Jake Hill is just five points from the lead of this year’s British Touring Car Championship after a second successive win double.
Platts Heath’s Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver Hill repeated his brace at Snetterton two weeks ago with his third and fourth victories of the year in his BMW 330e M Sport at Thruxton last weekend - the second after Bristol Street Motors’ Tom Ingram was demoted to third post-race.
A disappointing home round at Brands Hatch aside, it was the third time in four rounds Hill has made it a double podium - leaving him perfectly placed to take the lead in this year’s title battle at the next meeting at Oulton Park before a month’s break in the calendar.
“What a day, Hill said.” “I didn’t think we could possibly do any better than Snetterton, but amazingly we have.
“Thruxton; you’ve been a diamond; two wins and a fifth place. I’m over the moon. The Laser Beemer (BMW) has been unbelievable.
“We’re only a couple of points off the lead, which has been a mega comeback since Brands. We’ll go to Oulton ready to get some more.”
After qualifying third the Kent racer blasted off the line in race one and nipped between second-placed Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK) and ahead of Ingram - the latter swamped by a trio of NAPA cars. Hill managed his advantage over the chasing pack to the flag.
The pressure was even stronger in race two as up to six machines - all with more laps of the 60bhp hybrid boost allowance than Hill - lined up behind the polesitter. Only Ingram made it past but a post-race penalty for an illegal overtake while battling Cammish promoted Hill to top spot as he made it back-to-back double wins for the first time in his BTCC career.
His fourth success of 2024 was also his 16th career victory - at BMW UK’s local circuit - and the 125th BTCC win for West Surrey Racing.
NAPA’s Ash Sutton won race three’s reverse-grid battle, with Hill home in fifth place.
The next round at Oulton Park takes place on June 22-23.