Rob Austin will have a new team-mate for the final meeting of the 2013 British Touring Car Championship season, as Jake Hill joins the WIX Racing squad at Brands Hatch.
The promising 19-year-old will take control of the second Audi A4 in place of regular driver Will Bratt who lies 19th in the standings, providing Hill with his first BTCC break in NGTC machinery.
Hill made his series debut in June at Croft earlier this year, where he superbly claimed a Jack Sears Trophy win driving Motorbase‘s S2000 Ford Focus in place of Liam Griffin.
“This is undoubtedly the biggest break of my career – the chance to drive a race-winning NGTC car in Britain’s premier motor racing championship and at its biggest event of the year”, said Hill.
Hill admits that the deal is currently set for this weekend only, but hinted he aims to secure a full-time campaign in the series for 2014.
He added: “It’s a one-off for now – it’s the finale, after all – so it’s important to grab it with both hands and make the most of it.
“Exocet as well as Rob and WIX Racing are also putting a lot of faith in me so I want to repay that. I’ve visited the workshop and seen what the atmosphere in the team with Exocet and WIX on board is like – it’s just a great place for a driver to be.”
Hill’s striking livery for Brands Hatch (Photo: Rob Austin Racing)
His soon-to-be team-mate Austin said: “Exocet is the sort of partner that teams and fans of the BTCC dream of – they are a rapidly emerging company helping a rapidly emerging talent like Jake and it should make for a very exciting combination for people to follow and get behind this weekend.
“Plus along with WIX, Exocet’s colours also make for one of the sexiest racing car liveries anywhere at the moment. The car looks absolutely stunning and I very much look forward to seeing Exocet and Jake taking some very good results together this weekend.”
