Current British Touring Car Championship ace Jake Hill produced a stunning double victory in the Classic Touring Car Racing Club (CTCRC) Super Tourer races at Brands Hatch this afternoon (Saturday).
Hill, who regularly races a Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW in the modern day BTCC, has traded his contemporary runner for an ex-Laurent Aiello Nissan Primera this weekend. And he immediately showed his intent by qualifying on the front row for the first of Saturday’s two races on the Grand Prix circuit.
It was Stewart Whyte who edged the initial pace though, the experienced Super Touring campaigner just beating Hill to pole position by a tenth of a second in the morning. Hill was the man to beat in the race though, taking the lead and generally managing his pace to cross the line first. Whyte closed up during the mid-stages of the race, but there was little he could do to pass his rival as he settled for second.
Behind that it was left to Jason Hughes’s Vauxhall Vectra to claim the final spot on the podium at the head of a group of tightly packed competitors with James Kellett (Mazda 323 ST) and multiple Bathurst 1000 winner Steve Richards (Volvo S40).
Other notable finishers in the first race were Greg Murphy, another star with Bathurst wins to his name, who finished seventh in his first ever race at Brands Hatch, whilst Paul Radisich finished an impressive ninth in one of the oldest cars on the grid. Period BTCC ace Anthony Reid retired from contention after running towards the front of the order late in the race.
In race two, Hill led from pole position and was never headed despite a brief safety car interruption. Whyte once again followed his rival home in second, but there was a new face on the podium in third as rapid Porsche race Kellett guided his Mazda into the final place on the podium.
Behind that, Richards drove a very strong race to fourth in the Volvo his father Jim raced during the ‘90s. Jason Hughes completed the top-five after an epic battle with Murphy, who sadly dropped out of the running with a couple of laps to go.
The early safety car came following an off-track moment for CTCRC Chairman Stuart Caie. Whilst his day didn’t entirely go to plan on the circuit, Caie is worthy of a mention for his efforts to put the touring car grids for the weekend together.
The Super Tourers are due out for another double header on Sunday, but this time with all action taking place on the compact Indy circuit.
Super Touring Power has been a special occasion off the circuit too, with reunions and celebrations of tin top history taking place amongst the car displays and on a special interview stage hosted by Autosport magazine. Alain Menu, Tim Harvey, Steve Soper, Patrick Watts, Andy Rouse and Paul Radisich all featured as fans were taken for a trip down memory lane.
CTCRC Super Tourers, Brands Hatch, Super Touring Power, Race 1
- Jake Hill, Nissan Primera
- Stewart Whyte, Honda Accord, +3.646s
- Jason Hughes, Vauxhall Vectra, +32.678s
- James Kellett, Mazda 323 ST, +34.503s
- Steve Richards, Volvo S40, +34.886s
- Alexander Morgan, Vauxhall Astra, +42.118s
- Greg Murphy, Nissan Primera, +44.013s
- Richard Wheeler, Nissan Primera, +1m00.509s
- Paul Radisich, Ford Mondeo, +1m03.630s
- Jim Pocklington, Vauxhall Cavalier GSI, +1 lap
CTCRC Super Tourers, Brands Hatch, Super Touring Power, Race 2
- Jake Hill, Nissan Primera
- Stewart Whyte, Honda Accord, +0.675s
- James Kellett, Mazda 323 ST, +13.100s
- Steve Richards, Volvo S40, +16.070s
- Jason Hughes, Vauxhall Vectra, +16.257s
- Alexander Morgan, Vauxhall Astra, +18.688s
- Richard Wheeler, Nissan Primera, +24.873s
- Paul Radisich, Ford Mondeo, +25.908s
- Jim Pocklington, Vauxhall Cavalier GSI, +40.029s
- Nigel Arkell, Honda Accord, +42.644s
Click here for full race results.
Tickets for Sunday are available on the gate with free entry for under-13s.