Reigning Champion Secures Double Victory at Knockhill Round
Jake Hill, the reigning champion of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), delivered a remarkable performance at the Knockhill round by securing victory in the final race. This win marked a double for Hill, as he also claimed a previous race on the same day, showcasing his dominance and the strength of the West Surrey Racing BMW 330i M Sport team.
The race was not just about individual performances but also featured strategic moves among team-mates, reminiscent of classic DTM-style battles. A notable moment came when Dan Cammish moved over to let Ash Sutton pass on the final lap, which initially placed Sutton in second place. However, this maneuver was later reversed due to the yellow flags being waved because of a stranded car, adding an element of controversy to the results.
Tom Ingram finished fourth, which allowed Sutton to reduce the points gap with the 2022 champion from 19 to 17 points. This close competition highlighted the intensity of the season and the ongoing battle for the title.
Race Highlights and Strategic Moves
Hill started the race from the front row alongside his WSR BMW team-mate Daryl DeLeon. While DeLeon was on medium tyres, Senna Proctor was the only other top-16 starter not using the soft Goodyear tyres. DeLeon initially took the lead, but Hill managed to overtake him during the second lap, demonstrating his skill and control on the track.
Cammish then took second place by overtaking DeLeon at the tight McIntyre’s corner. Despite setting the fastest lap, Cammish struggled to match Hill’s consistent pace. Meanwhile, Proctor overtook DeLeon for third, benefiting from the intense battle behind them that neutralized the negative tyre offset.
Sutton faced a tough challenge from Tom Ingram, who repeatedly attacked with aggressive moves. However, these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, allowing the two title contenders to eventually catch up with Proctor and DeLeon. The battle between them opened the door for other drivers like Tom Chilton and Dan Rowbottom to enter the fray.
Rowbottom managed to overtake Chilton, but Chilton quickly retaliated, creating a back-and-forth battle that kept the audience engaged. Once Proctor and DeLeon were dispatched, Sutton and Ingram found themselves racing clear, though their rivalry had lost some of its intensity.
Final Moments and Post-Race Reactions
Up front, Hill maintained a gap of just under four seconds over Cammish, who dutifully moved over to allow Sutton into second place on the final lap. However, the move was called into question due to the yellow flags waving, leading to uncertainty about whether the pass would stand. Despite this, Hill’s victory was undeniable, as he crossed the finish line 4.717 seconds ahead of the second-place driver.
“I’m thrilled to come back after missing Croft,” Hill said. “The car was absolutely perfect. Easy to drive, easy to manage. Thanks to Daryl for not holding me up too much. We’ve made huge strides forward with the car, so a big thank you to WSR for working so hard.”
Sutton also acknowledged Cammish’s contribution, stating, “Once again, Dan Cammish did a blinder with me there.”
Final Race Results
Here are the final standings from the Knockhill round:
- Jake Hill – BMW – 24 laps – 21’00.395
- Dan Cammish – Ford – 24 laps – 21’05.491 (+5.096)
- Ash Sutton – Ford – 24 laps – 21’05.112 (+4.717)
- Tom Ingram – Hyundai – 24 laps – 21’06.672 (+6.277)
- Tom Chilton – Hyundai – 24 laps – 21’10.395 (+10.000)
- Dan Rowbottom – Ford – 24 laps – 21’11.023 (+10.628)
- Adam Morgan – Hyundai – 24 laps – 21’15.361 (+14.966)
- Charles Rainford – BMW – 24 laps – 21’16.540 (+16.145)
- Aiden Moffat – BMW – 24 laps – 21’18.603 (+18.208)
- Gordon Shedden – Toyota – 24 laps – 21’18.613 (+18.218)
Other notable finishes included Senna Proctor in 13th, who received a 10-second penalty for track-limits abuse, and Aiden Moffat narrowly edging out Gordon Shedden by 0.010 seconds in a thrilling final showdown.