The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship has seen Jake Hill become the third driver of 2018 to depart from their team before the end of the season.
Racing under the Trade Price Cars with Brisky Racing banner but within the Team HARD fold, Hill scored a maiden podium in the series at the second race of the day during chaotic conditions at Brands Hatch. Since then he has only visited the points twice further and never looked like to repeat his podium heroics.
Jake currently lies twenty-third in the drivers standings and currently heads the Dunlop #ForeverForward award.
Jake scored his maiden BTCC podium at Brands Hatch this year. Credit: btcc.net
Testing at Snetterton this week has seen Team HARD announce multiple drivers to take turns piloting one of their cars over the next few days. Whether this Jake Hill announcement was the catalyst for them to try out multiple options is a logical explanation. However, they must find a replacement before Snetterton in a fortnight or risk losing the TOCA BTCC License which was used to run Hill for the first half of this year.
Speaking to Autosport about this news. Jake said,
“I have been disappointed with the results this year despite the hard work the team has put in, but it is not just the on-track situations that have made me think again, there are several other factors.”
This comment highlights the possibility of strife within the Team HARD camp and whether this is due to incompetence amongst certain members of the team or just the performance of the car is unknown.
Team HARD Team Principal Tony Gilham was disappointed with the decision of his driver telling Autosport,
“I have put a lot of time and money into Jake’s career over the last few season and without our support, he would not have been able to make a full-time switch to the BTCC, which is something I think he would openly admit.”
Jake joins James Nash and Tom Boardman as the three drivers to have left their seat before the end of the season. A replacement for his seat, whether there is one, will be announced ahead of the Snetterton weekend.
