Current British Touring Car Championship star, Jake Hill, showcased his exceptional talent at the inaugural Super Touring Power meeting. Hill, who was only five years old when Laurent Aiello won the BTCC title in 1999, achieved a clean sweep at the event. The Super Tourers entry consisted of 20 cars, including five from New Zealand. The races took place on both the Grand Prix and Indy layouts of Brands Hatch.
In the qualifying round, Hill, driving Richard Wheeler’s ex-Aiello Nissan Primera, narrowly missed out on pole position to Stewart Whyte’s ex-Tom Kristensen Honda Accord. However, Hill quickly took the lead from the rolling start in the first race and maintained his position for the remainder of the weekend. Despite Whyte’s attempts to challenge him, Hill remained in control. In the opening race, Whyte faced difficulties in traffic, while his strategy of lower tyre pressure in the second race was hampered by a safety car. Hill, on the other hand, dealt with a gearbox glitch while nursing his lead.
In the final race, Whyte initially overtook Hill at the start. However, as Hill prepared to make a move at McLaren, the Honda’s back end unexpectedly snapped, sending Whyte into the gravel. Hill held off Jason Hughes and Anthony Reid to secure his fourth victory of the weekend. Reflecting on his success, Hill expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to compete in the event.
Thrilling Action in Other Championships
The Super Touring Power meeting also featured seven other championships organized by the Classic Touring Car Racing Club. These races captivated spectators with their large grids and intense competition.
In the classic Pre-’66 Touring Car contests, Grant Williams emerged as the victor twice, surpassing Mini expert Ian Curley in thrilling battles. Williams piloted an ex-Roy Salvadori 1959 Jaguar Mk1, while Curley drove a Mini. The two drivers frequently traded the lead, with Nick Paddy closely observing their duel.
Charles Rainford claimed victory in both races of the Pre-’83 category, joined by the Mini pair on Saturday. Rainford, driving the newly acquired Faberge Ford Capri owned by the Lovell brothers, secured his second win after an unfortunate incident involving Jonathan Corker’s beached Datsun 510. Rainford’s oil had caused him to spin into the gravel due to a head-gasket failure. With Rainford out of the race, Will Davison triumphed twice in the Pre-’83 races, with Stephen Primett finishing on the podium alongside him.
Paul Mensley, a newcomer to the CTCRC, dominated the Blue Oval Saloons category. Despite a challenging start, Mensley’s Sierra RS500 fought its way back to victory in the opening race. Although he was defeated by Martin Reynolds’s Escort Mk2 and Colin Tester’s RS500 later in the day, Mensley managed to hold off Reynolds in the following races.
In the Classic Thunder division, Sam Wilson secured his first overall win by overtaking Bryan Bransom’s BMW E46 on the final lap. Alex Sidwell finished second, while Wilson’s Aston Martin V8 Vantage took the victory in the subsequent race. However, Wilson faced setbacks on Sunday, allowing Nick Vaughan’s Audi A3 to claim a maiden victory.
The Jaguar Challenge saw Guy Connew and Colin Philpott emerge as the winners in their XJSs. Gary Prebble dominated the Pre-’03 category with three wins, while Chris Southcott secured one victory.
The Super Touring Power meeting provided a thrilling display of talent and fierce competition across multiple championships. Jake Hill’s exceptional performance and clean sweep in the Super Tourers category solidified his status as a rising star in the British Touring Car Championship. As the event concluded, motorsport enthusiasts eagerly awaited the next chapter in the ongoing saga of touring car racing.
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