Jake Hill set the fastest ever Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship qualifying time on the current Brands Hatch Indy circuit configuration to claim pole position this afternoon (Saturday). His time of 46.493s was enough to edge out fellow BMW driver Charles Rainford by just 0.021s.
Hill’s best effort at the wheel of his Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW came during the second half of the final Quick Six qualifying period. Rainford set an earlier table topping effort in his LKQ Euro Car Parts branded machine, but was forced to settle for second – his first front row start in the BTCC.
The all-BMW front row on tomorrow’s grid will be followed by a Team Vertu duo just behind, with Adam Morgan leading the Hyundai charge in third. His effort was very close to being good enough for pole at just 26 thousandths behind Hill’s leading pace.
Morgan’s teammate Tom Ingram was fourth, with Donington Park pole sitter Dan Cammish taking fifth. Mikey Doble was the other Quick Six contender and he had to take sixth at the end, finishing just over two-tenths adrift in super close session.
Sunday’s opening race should have some added intrigue following early exits from qualifying for some of the series’ biggest names. Four-time champion and series leader Ash Sutton will start 13th after narrowly missing out on progressing through the first knockout phase, whilst Donington winner Tom Chilton will be two places further back.
Another driver to watch down the field will be three-time title winner Gordon Shedden who will line up 24th after failing to progress.
Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Quick Six Qualifying, Brands Hatch
- Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, BMW 330i M Sport
- Charles Rainford, LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR, BMW 330i M Sport, +0.021s
- Adam Morgan, Team Vertu, Hyundai i30N, +0.026s
- Tom Ingram, Team Vertu, Hyundai i30N, +0.201s
- Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, +0.213s
- Mikey Doble, Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing, Vauxhall Astra, +0.262s
Click here to view full results from this weekend.