It was a good season for the West Surrey Racing team (WSR), which campaigns a trio of BMW 330e M Sport models in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). The team won the manufacturers championship for BMW, and driver Jake Hill (shown above) won the drivers championship.
The BTCC holds three races per race weekend and BMW drivers had 28 podium finishes in 30 total races, including thirteen wins. Jake Hill, who was entered in the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW entry run by WSR, had eight of those wins. Colin Turkington, who also races a 330e M Sport for the WSR team, had five wins. Turkington also won the Goodyear Wingfoot Award, which goes to the best qualifier for the season.
Colin Turkington had five wins on the season.
Jake Hill had a slow start to the season with a pair of third place finishes in the first six races, but then won two races out of three at Snetterton and two out of three in the following rounds at Thruxton. Going into the finale weekend at Brands Hatch, Hill was still battling for the championship with Hyundai driver Tom Ingram but had a win and two second place finishes to secure the championship. Turkington also had two podium finishes at Brands Hatch to help bring home the manufacturers championship to BMW.
Jake Hill celebrates his championship at Brands Hatch.
Hills win at Brands Hatch was the 400th podium for the WSR team in BTCC competition, and the manufacturers championship was BMWs tenth in the BTCC. “I don’t know what to say. I’m just so overwhelmed,” said Hill after winning the championship. “I am the 2024 British Touring Car Champion, and I still can’t believe I get to say that. This is the best day ever, and BMW are Manufacturers’ Champions so it’s an even better best day ever. I don’t know how to put it into words other than to say that this team are the best team ever.”
—David Haueter
[Photos courtesy BTCC]