Jake Hill and Charles Rainford locked out an all-WSR front row on an ultra-strong day for the reigning British Touring Car Champions at Brands Hatch.
Both Jake and Charles were constant front-runners in their BMW 330i M Sports and finished Saturday’s running separated by just two hundredths of a second on a day when the entire field was incredibly closely matched.
Reigning champion Jake had spent practice honing the set-up of his Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW and calmly progressed through the three-part qualifying session with the best time of all in Q1.
The Kent ace was then third in the 12-driver Q2 to progress into the ‘Quick-Six’ pole-position shoot-out, in which he seized the initiative to take his fourth career pole, his first of 2025 and his first at his local circuit.
Almost matching Jake’s effort was Charles, who wound up just 0.021s adrift as he achieved his first front-row start at only his second BTCC event; the LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR driver having debuted at Donington Park two weeks earlier.
The rookie, who was the leading Jack Sears Trophy contender in qualifying, had gone fastest in Q2 and was second – again behind Jake – in his Q1 group.
WSR’s Daryl DeLeon was another to show impressive form in practice and the Cambridgeshire racer continued his strong performance in Q1 as he set the second-best time of Group 1.
He went faster again in Q2; his best effort leaving him just a tenth of a second away from the top six. He starts a season’s-best ninth, just one spot shy of his all-time highest qualifying position.
Aiden Moffat, Charles’ LKQ team-mate, showed impressive pace in practice and set the third-best time in FP2.
The Edinburgh racer, a five-time BTCC race winner suffered an unfortunate spin into the gravel at Paddock Hill Bend during Q1, lost his fastest laptime as per the series rules due to the incident causing a red flag, and will start 25th.
Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, said: “POLE POSITION BABY! I am over the moon, especially with the performance level we had at Donington and the challenges we had with the car. We have worked tirelessly as a team to overcome those issues and I think you can say the BMW is pretty good here. Not only am I on pole, but Charles is alongside me so we have a front-row lockout. To Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport and WSR, this one’s for you.”
Charles Rainford, LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR, said: “Qualifying done and I’m very happy to say I’m on the front row. Jake’s on pole, I’m second and the day’s gone so well. I’m on Cloud Nine right now so if this is a dream, don’t wake me up! There’s still plenty of work to do tomorrow, the weather is supposed to be really good and I’m ready to race at the front in the BTCC.”
Daryl DeLeon, WSR, said: “We were trying a few things in the practice sessions, but in qualifying we were fast, made it into Q2 and finished up in ninth, which I’m pretty happy with. Tomorrow’s going to be a busy day with three races and we have some work to do to make sure we’re in good shape, but I’m confident we will be.”
Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, said: “What a turnaround from Donington to Brands Hatch! What a great effort for Jake and for Charles – a rookie – with first and second on the grid. Daryl did very well too and although Aiden made a small mistake, he was going very well and the potential now is that we’re back up where we should be. A lot of hard work’s gone on since Donington and the team have been working some silly hours, so hopefully it’s paid off. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”
