Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport faced a challenging weekend at Thruxton, as reigning champion Jake Hill and the team worked hard to overcome issues to secure two solid top-six finishes.
Hosting the fourth round of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Thruxton delivered a weekend of mixed conditions that posed fresh challenges for the team. Saturday began with dry but changeable weather, during which Jake Hill secured P3 and P10 in the two practice sessions, respectively.
As the team headed into qualifying, conditions deteriorated rapidly with torrential rain hitting the Hampshire circuit. For Jake and the team, running a rear-wheel drive WSR-prepared BMW 330i M Sport, the standing water created significant difficulties. While many front-wheel drive competitors were less affected, Jake experienced aquaplaning at over 140mph. Despite the treacherous conditions, he delivered a strong performance to qualify in P8, narrowly missing out on a place in the 'Quick Six' shootout.
Lining up in P8 for race 1, Jake had a clean start, immediately gaining ground from his strong start, but was soon on the receiving end of a hard move by Proctor and was shoved onto the grass on exit out of Seagrave. Jake then lost momentum, falling back a few positions as the safety car was deployed for another incident.
Once racing resumed, Jake was on a mission to progress up the order and eventually passed a handful of cars to get himself back up the order and take the chequered flag in P6.
Starting from P6 for Race 2, Jake made a clean getaway and immediately found himself in a fierce battle for the podium. In the fight for the final podium spot, Hill engaged in a thrilling contest with Dan Rowbottom, with the pair exchanging positions multiple times in an intense and closely matched duel. Both drivers were caught out by fluid dropped on the circuit by Mikey Doble’s Vauxhall, causing Rowbottom to run briefly through the grass at the exit of Allard, while Hill managed to stay on track.
As the race progressed, Hill began to struggle for rear grip in the closing stages, and he slipped back two positions to cross the line in P6. However, he was later promoted to P5 following the post-race exclusion of Josh Cook due to a ride height infringement.
In Race 3, the reverse grid draw rewarded Jake Hill and the team with a third-place starting position for the final contest of the weekend. Jake made an excellent start, launching off the line to take the lead in the opening laps. Although he briefly lost the lead to Dan Rowbottom, Hill maintained a strong position and built a comfortable gap within the podium places.However, his progress was halted by the deployment of the safety car, which erased the advantage he had built. Upon the restart, Hill faced a disadvantage in tyre temperature compared to his front-wheel drive rivals, and as the race progressed, he gradually slipped down the order.
While engaged in a heated battle with Ash Sutton, Hill's #1 BMW made contact with Sutton’s Ford Focus as the pair navigated through Noble. The incident forced Hill off track and through the grass, clogging his car’s air intake with grass and mud. He was forced to pit to clear the debris, rejoining the race at the back of the field and ultimately taking the chequered flag in P18.
While the weekend's results may not have reflected the team's efforts, Jake and the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport squad maximised everything possible from the car. Jake now sits fifth in the Drivers’ Championship, with the team’s attention firmly set on Round 5 at Oulton Park, taking place on June 21–22.
Jake Hill, Driver, #1 Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport:
“It’s definitely been a tough weekend. The BMW felt good through the high-speed sections, and the chassis was working well, but we struggled on the straights with a noticeable straight-line speed deficit compared to some of the other cars. That made racing particularly challenging. I'm already looking forward to Oulton Park and the chance to bounce back.”
Mark Blundell, Sporting Director, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport:
“I’m proud of the effort from everyone this weekend. Thruxton presented its own set of challenges, which made life tough for us out there. The positives are that the chassis showed real promise, and we’re learning every step of the way. There’s still work to be done, and we’re under no illusions about that — but everyone in the team is committed to giving their all to get us to where we need to be. We’ll regroup and come out fighting at Oulton Park.”
