Reigning Kwik Fit British Touring Car Champion Jake Hill wowed his home crowd at Brands Hatch earlier today (10 May) by setting a new qualifying lap record around the 1.21-mile Indy circuit.
In fact, the final 'Quick Six' contenders all set a lap time well under the existing qualifying lap record as Hill's (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) 46.493s effort topped the times, with stablemate Charles Rainford (LKQ Euro Car Parts with WSR) and Adam Morgan (Team Vertu) just 0.021s and 0.026s behind respectively.
The action kicked off almost immediately with a red flag, infringements and surprising exits in the opening part of qualifying.
LKQ Euro Car Parts with WSR's Aiden Moffat was initially on the pace in the first group until the BMW endured a semi-spin into the gravel at the bottom of Paddock Hill, bringing out the red flags and thus losing his fastest lap time in the process.
Team Vertu's Tom Ingram looked to be cruising through until he received a penalty for failing to stop at the weighbridge. The 2022 champion lost all of his lap times up to that point in the session, but he responded brilliantly to hit the top of the times shortly after the restart.
The main loser from the first group was NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton as he failed to make it through, whilst there was a further surprise in the next group as TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA's Gordon Shedden propped up the times and will start tomorrow’s opener from 24th on the grid.
The final 12 competitors – vying to reach the ‘Quick Six’ finale – produced an enthralling ten-minute session as those that made it through were separated by an unbelievable 0.136s, whilst NAPA Racing UK's Sam Osborne failed to progress by an agonising 0.086s.
BMW stablemates Hill and Rainford looked to be duelling it out for pole and so it proved as the master marginally beat the apprentice in a frenetic finale, as Team Vertu's Morgan also impressed to claim third.
Ingram will line-up fourth for tomorrow's opener, ahead of NAPA Racing UK's Dan Cammish and Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing's Mikey Doble.
Rounds 4, 5 and 6 of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will take place at Brands Hatch tomorrow, with a great crowd and beautiful weather expected to descend on the famous Kent venue. Those in the UK unable to attend can watch all the action LIVE on ITV4 from 1040, whilst the action will also be streamed across the globe – see the BTCC's TV page for further details.
Jake Hill, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, said: “I just threw the world at it. I thought it might be on the cards in Q1 when we topped our group, and I thought ‘let’s have a go!’ so I’m thrilled. The Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport team have absolutely pulled it together and given me a car capable of being at the front. It’s my first pole at Brands too, back at home, so I’m leaving here a very happy man. As lovely as this new Goodyear Wingfoot Award is for taking pole, I am hopeful for a win tomorrow or at least a couple of podiums.”
2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Brands Hatch Indy – Qualifying – Final Classification:
P/ No/ Name/ Entry/ Q1/ Q2/ Q3/
1 1 Jake HILL Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport 46.746 46.636 46.493
2 99 Charles RAINFORD LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR 46.818 46.568 46.514
3 33 Adam MORGAN Team Vertu 46.929 46.684 46.519
4 80 Tom INGRAM Team Vertu 46.961 46.599 46.694
5 27 Dan CAMMISH NAPA Racing UK 47.043 46.704 46.706
6 88 Mikey DOBLE Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing 46.908 46.639 46.755
7 77 Sam OSBORNE NAPA Racing UK 47.122 46.79
8 123 Daniel LLOYD Restart Racing 47.085 46.839
9 2 Daryl DELEON WSR 46.991 46.843
10 14 Ronan PEARSON TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA 47.187 46.852
11 22 Chris SMILEY Restart Racing 47.152 46.945
12 12 Stephen JELLEY One Motorsport 47.181 46.961
13 100 Ashley SUTTON NAPA Racing UK 47.206
14 32 Daniel ROWBOTTOM NAPA Racing UK 47.199
15 3 Tom CHILTON Team Vertu 47.309
16 777 Michael CREES Team Vertu 47.216
17 66 Josh COOK One Motorsport 47.314
18 40 Árón TAYLOR-SMITH TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA 47.252
19 93 Max HALL ROKiT Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport 47.616
20 132 James DORLIN TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA 47.272
21 28 Nicolas HAMILTON Powder Monkey Brewing Co with Esidock 48.342
22 17 Dexter PATTERSON ROKiT Racing with Un-Limited Motorsport 47.369
23 50 Nick HALSTEAD Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing 48.682
24 52 Gordon SHEDDEN TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA 47.598
25 16 Aiden MOFFAT LKQ Euro Car Parts Racing with WSR 49.533
