Jake Hill announces departure from Laser Tools Racing and the BTCC

Jake Hill has announced that he will not be returning to the British Touring Car Championship in 2026, after 12 seasons racing in the championship.

Hill, the 2024 champion, will part ways with the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport squad as he embarks on a new chapter in his international racing career.

The announcement marks the end of Hill’s partnership with MB Motorsport, which began in 2020 when he raced a Honda Civic, before moving into a Ford Focus the year after, both with Motorbase Performance, although Hill’s associated with Mark Blundell dates back to the 2019 season when the duo were team-mates in Audi machinery.

Hill and MB Motorsport then moved to WSR for the 2022 season with immediate success, with Hill finishing third overall in the drivers’ standings in his first two seasons with the team before clinching the drivers’ championship outright in 2024.

Hill has scored a total of 23 victories thus far in his BTCC career, with 19 of those coming in WSR-run BMW machinery.

Having claimed the outright title in 2024, Hill will now move on in his professional racing career, embarking on an ‘international racing’ programme to be announced in due course.

Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport remains committed to the BTCC and will reveal its 2026 programme and driver line-up in the ‘not-so-distant’ future.

“It is with a real heavy heart that I announce my departure from Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport and the British Touring Car Championship,” said Hill, 31. “It has been the hardest decision of my career. The team and championship have been my home for so many years, and I hope that announcing this news now will enable me to have a fitting farewell at my home track of Brands Hatch, surrounded by the fantastic BTCC fans.

“Winning that Drivers’ Championship was a real bucket list moment for me, and I am so proud to have achieved that.

“When I started working with MB Motorsport, the dream was twofold – to become the BTCC Champion and to become a professional racing driver internationally.

“There’s no one prouder than me to say that we have now ticked both those boxes by working together so well over all these years.

“I remember being super excited to be teamed up with Mark in 2019, and who would have thought the journey we would go on since.

“MB Motorsport’s support, their commercial partners and the work of Mark and the team has been the single biggest game-changer to my BTCC career.

“I owe so much to so many people, and I leave super excited to continue doing all of them proud in the next stage of my career.”

Mark Blundell, Sporting Director of Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, is looking forward to finding the next young talent to work with the team, and praised Hill for his contribution to the outfit’s success.

“Today’s announcement is a bittersweet one,” said Blundell. “Together, we have always wanted to provide Jake with the opportunity to go and fulfil all of his career aspirations, and today is the next step in that journey.

“He will be missed as he has given so many memories and moments to our team and has been a wonderful representative for us all, but we are really proud to wish him every success in his next step.

“Much of my time post my own racing career is dedicated to supporting young drivers to make the most of their careers, so Jake marks another huge success in that regard.

“But the news provides us the opportunity to do that once again and signals the start of the next chapter.

“We are proud to have the continued support and shared ambition with Laser Tools Racing in achieving exactly that, and we cannot wait to reveal what 2026 looks like.”

WSR Team Principal Dick Bennetts is proud to have worked with Jake over the past four seasons.

“On behalf of the whole WSR team, I’d like to thank Jake for his incredible contribution to our touring car programme since he and Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport began working with us in 2022, which has included 20 race wins, 47 podiums, one Drivers’ title and two Manufacturers’ crowns for BMW,” added Bennetts.

“Naturally we’re disappointed to be losing not only a truly elite touring car driver, but also an incredibly popular member of the team and the paddock.

“We feel extremely proud to have provided the platform for Jake to achieve his dream of becoming BTCC champion in 2024 and to have helped him grow his reputation to become an in-demand driver internationally as he moves on to the next stage of what we’re sure will continue to be a very successful career.

“First though, there’s Brands Hatch next weekend and what better way to end this ultra-successful partnership than with a win.”