Hill storms to Snetterton BTCC pole for WSR and BMW

WSR and BMW made it back-to-back pole positions in the British Touring Car Championship as Jake Hill dominated a damp, but drying, qualifying session at Snetterton on Saturday.

The Kent ace, who has scored a double-podium finish at the Norfolk track in each of the past two seasons, was in imperious form aboard his BMW 330e M Sport as rain hit the circuit at various times during the day.

The Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver set the pace in a wet opening practice and was also fastest as more rain fell during the opening section of ‘Quick Six’ qualifying during the afternoon.

Jake, who is currently fourth in the Drivers’ standings, also set the pace in Q2, but looked set to miss out on the top spot in the final, six-driver, Q3, until a late effort on slick tyres on a drying track put him on top of the pile.

Not only was his final-lap flyer good enough to put him eight tenths of a second clear of the pack, but it also secured the third pole position of his BTCC career. It was the second pole in a row by a WSR BMW after Colin Turkington did likewise at Brands Hatch.

Running him close in Q1 was Team BMW’s Adam Morgan. The Lancashire racer looked to have ruined his chances of progress when he spun at the first corner, Riches, during Q2 when the rain was at its heaviest.

But the 11-time race winner was in inspired form and drove faster and faster to make Q3 and then qualify third – his second top-three result in as many BTCC events.

BTCC fan favourite Bobby Thompson, making his team debut at Snetterton aboard the Zeus Cloud Racing with WSR BMW, impressively set the pace in the second practice session, which featured the wettest conditions of the day.

Further rain at the start of qualifying prefaced a tremendous run to fifth place for the Hornchurch driver, who had just one flying lap of note in Q3 after starting the session on wet tyres and switching to slicks following a slow, exploratory lap.

Under series regulations, Team BMW’s Colin Turkington carried a bigger hybrid boost penalty than all but one of his rivals due to the Northern Irishman holding second place in the Drivers’ points.

The four-time champion set top-five times in practice, but was ninth in qualifying; his penalty exacerbated by the wet conditions that further limited the availability of the 60bhp boost.

Tomorrow’s three races will be broadcast on ITV4 from 1050, online on ITV X (UK only) and globally via ITV Sport on Tik Tok.

QUOTES…

Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport