Team HARD has announced Jake Hill as its third and final driver for next year’s British Touring Car Championship after retaining the 22-year old for a second full campaign.
Hill will pilot one of the team’s recently-acquired Volkswagen CC’s from Team BMR, having scored a best finish of 5th at Silverstone last season in a Tive year-old Toyota Avensis chassis.
The Kent-based racer, who made his championship debut at Croft back in 2013 in an S2000 Ford Focus for Addison Lee Motorbase, admitted continuity could prove valuable in the upcoming season, and underlined his thanks to Team Principal and former BTCC driver Tony Gilham for providing him with an opportunity to build on last season’s progress.
“It’s fantastic to know I will be back with the team and continuing my journey with them.” commented Hill.
“I am hugely grateful to Tony (Gilham) RCIB Insurance, AutoAid Breakdown and TAG Industries for working to get me back on board for this season, and equally have some incredible support from Sportif Motor Group, Brisky Racing and our new partners Rolec Electrical Contractors. Last season I learned a huge amount and felt we made some strong progress.”
With all entrants now fitted with a compulsory RML control component upgrade, and with series tyre suppliers Dunlop introducing a new-for-2017 SportMaxx compound for the championship, experience will prove vital if Hill is to continue his impressive rookie season form.
Hill also pointed to his strong team-mate pairing as a source of motivation to push forward, with 2016 Jack Sears Trophy vice-champion Mike Epps returning to partner the 22-year old, and Ginetta GT4 Supercup vice-champion Will Burns graduating into the series.
“We worked really well as a team, and it’s really significant having continuity with the crew and the partners. It’s great to be racing the Passat CC, with the latest RML equipment as I think it will be strong at lots of circuits The aim is to get points regularly, try and qualify well and be in the mix at every event. We are all hugely ambitious, and both Mike (Epps) and Will (Burns) will be quick and I’m sure we will all push each other hard all season”
Gilham admitted he was pleased to have retained Hill’s services, commenting that the decision was the best fit for the team from both a competitive and commercial standpoint.
“Jake was really strong last year and got the absolute maximum from the car. The team worked really well with him and with the new cars I’m confident all three of our drivers will be in the mix. All of our partners are delighted to have Jake back to continue the progress with us” commented Gilham.
The three RCIB Insurance Racing challengers will be unveiled at the official Season Launch, due to be held at Donington Park on March 16th.