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MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square enjoyed a promising Saturday at the Oulton Park circuit with Jake Hill qualifying an excellent sixth and Sam Osborne rounding out the top twenty - leaving the team optimistic ahead of the main events tomorrow.
With several flurries of rain passing over the track throughout the day, reacting to the conditions was the name of the game, especially in the early phases of the day.
In the morning’s opening practice session, Jake set the early pace on a greasy track as the 26-year-old occupied the top of the timing screens with a 1:34.924. With the sun beginning to break through, the track started to dry and times started to tumble. The dying moments of the session saw a dramatic improvement in the status of the track and, with other drivers now circulating on slick tyres, Jake began to drop down the order and ended the session ninth fastest whilst Sam rounded out the morning in 27th.
More settled conditions greeted the drivers in the second session, with Jake initially lapping in the high 1:27s. The Kent-based driver continued to find more speed throughout the session, eventually breaking into the 1:26s with a best lap of 1:26.959 good enough to place him twelfth overall.
Sam also put the session to good use and continually improved throughout the forty minutes. Following a brief red flag stoppage, Sam was quickly back out on track for the final few minutes which saw him set yet another personal best time of a 1:27.022 which meant he placed thirteenth overall and just 0.063s behind Jake.
As qualifying rolled around, the conditions remained settled and dry with the team in an optimistic mood. Both drivers started the session conservatively before ramping up their lap times, with Jake setting what would be his best lap of the session, a 1:26.144, just over ten minutes in.
Approaching little over five minutes remaining, Jake was on course to set another personal best which could potentially have placed him firmly inside the top three. However, an unfortunate puncture picked up at the Knickerbrook chicane denied him the chance to complete the lap. That said, today’s result means Jake has qualified inside the top seven for the third weekend in a row and now has the fourth best qualifying average this season overall.
At the wheel of the #4 Honda Civic Type R, Sam opted for a similar approach to the start of the session and similarly set his fastest lap just before the midway point. A 1:26.817 saw him claim P20 for the opening race tomorrow afternoon and is looking to make progress in the Jack Sears Trophy tomorrow.
Elsewhere, the team’s official development driver, Esmee Hawkey, enjoyed another positive day. Carrying over a seven-place grid penalty from Brands Hatch GP, Esmee enjoyed making her way through the Porsche Carrera Cup GB field ultimately closing out her first race of the weekend P2 in class and on the Pro-Am podium for the fifth race in succession.
Shaun Hollamby, Team Principal, MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square:
“As a team we’ve had a very solid day. The mixed conditions gave us plenty to contend with but it also gave us the chance to learn a lot at the same time. Whilst Jake’s puncture was unfortunate, we’re still very pleased with sixth as it gives him a great position to fight from tomorrow afternoon and with Sam in the mix too we can definitely aim for some valuable points."
Mark Blundell, Sporting Director, MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square:
“It’s been another very promising day for the team with two really solid results to show for our efforts. I must say a big well done to Jake for his third consecutive top-seven start and I’m very excited to see what both him and Sam can achieve tomorrow, it’s certainly all to play for.”
Jake Hill, #24 MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square Honda Civic Type R:
“I’m really pleased with how today has gone, my pace has been strong all day and that’s been rewarded with a P6 start for tomorrow. We’ve improved the car all day and it felt in a great place through qualifying. I think we are going to have a really strong car through the races and me and the whole team are fully revved up to make some moves tomorrow.”
Sam Osborne, #4 MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square Honda Civic Type R:
“I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t quite hook it all up in qualifying as there was more there to take. That said, I found time all throughout the day and, as a result, we’re firmly in the running for the points tomorrow. With such fine margins between the grid, it’s anyone’s guess as to what tomorrow will bring but I’m confident we can battle it out for some points.”
Esmee Hawkey, MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square Official Development Driver:
“It was a bit of a different day today with the grid penalty we’ve been carrying over from Brands. We knew that that meant it was a case of making what progress we could and I am really glad with how it ended up. I’m keen to try and make some more moves forward tomorrow.
