Jake Hewlett Shines at Brands Hatch with Double Podium and Fastest Lap

Jake Hewlett headed to Brands Hatch for Rounds 13 and 14 of the Racing Honda's championship with both excitement and uncertainty, as the weekend's weather forecast called for a heatwave, but also warned of an impending thunderstorm. The team arrived well-prepared after recent testing sessions had shown significant improvements in car setup and tire development, boosting their confidence in the car's pace and potential.

Following overnight thunderstorms, the track was drenched for the start of free practice. The dark skies occasionally broke with gaps of sunshine, creating a patchy and unpredictable surface. The team used the session to acclimate to the circuit's changing conditions, ensuring everything was in optimal working order.

By the time Qualifying began, the track had dried completely, but the looming clouds still kept everyone on edge. Jake and the team set out with a target lap time of a high 52 seconds. An initial lap of 53.6 seconds indicated potential, but despite the car's capabilities, the session did not go as smoothly as planned. A combination of being held up by other competitors and losing time in key sectors meant they could not put together a perfect lap. Although they were in P2 for much of the session, a last-minute push from competitors bumped Jake down to P3, with just two-tenths of a second separating P1 and P4 in their class.

As Race 1 approached, so did the rain. With conditions neither fully wet nor dry, the team opted for a setup that balanced between both extremes. Two green flag laps led the field around a darkening Sevenoaks circuit, with heavy rain starting to fall as the race began. Visibility was challenging due to the spray from the cars ahead and the misted windows, making the opening laps particularly treacherous. On lap one, Jake managed to retain his position through Turn 3, despite being forced wide twice by a competitor. A safety car was soon deployed, bunching the field together.

After a few laps behind the safety car, the race resumed, and Jake made an impressive restart, positioning himself for an overtaking move into Turn 1. The car ahead defended however was comprimsed for T2, Jake took to the inside of druids  securing the position. Jake continued to push, executing a bold move at Graham Hill Bend to gain another position this time on a class A car. From there, he maintained his momentum, closing in on the next car and applying pressure until his rival spun, allowing him to secure P2 and P5 overall. As the race neared its conclusion, Jake set the fastest lap of the entire grid, including all classes, but ran out of time to challenge for P1, finishing just short with the final lap board in sight.

Race 2 saw Jake start from pole position on a wet but rapidly drying circuit, thanks to his fastest lap in Race 1. The team had opted for a wet-focused setup, hoping for more rain that never materialized. A less-than-ideal start allowed one of the faster class A cars to pass by Turn 1, and by lap three, another had overtaken him on the outside. A third class A car quickly approached, but Jake smartly avoided unnecessary battles, allowing it to pass with minimal time loss. By lap six, another safety car was called, creating a chance for the field to bunch up once again.

The restart proved chaotic when a lapped class B car slotted into P2, causing a bottleneck as it slowed down entering the pit lane. This caused a sudden concertina effect, nearly resulting in a multi-car collision. As the cars bunched up again, Jake was overtaken by another class A car. The race continued for one more lap before a red flag ended the proceedings due to an incident at Paddock Hill. Despite the challenging conditions and setbacks, Jake secured a P1 finish, adding to his P2 and fastest lap outright from Race 1.

Overall, it was a highly successful weekend for Jake Hewlett and the team, demonstrating significant strides in car setup and performance. There is still some room for refinement, particularly with weight management and further fine-tuning, but the progress made so far is undeniable. Special thanks go to Lewis, Ryan and the whole Europa Crash Centre team for their unwavering support and to the BSR team for their relentless hard work. The car has transformed remarkably since the start of the season, and Jake is eager to continue pushing forward and unlocking more potential.

Hewlett will be in the final rounds at Snetterton on the 20th October!