Video: 2023 Gordon Spice Trophy Heat 1 highlights | 80MM

16th April 2023

Adam Wilkins

It was European Ford versus American GM at the sharp end of the Gordon Spice Trophy in Heat One. Jake Hill’s Ford Capri set off from pole position after his team did a terrific job of putting the car back together after a qualifying mishap, and the BTCC driver made the most of the opportunity, and didn't put another foot wrong during an impressive drive.

But he wasn’t given an easy time. He spent much of the race with one Chevrolet Camaro or another filling his mirrors and trying find a way past. It was a case of straight-line grunt versus late braking, and it was the latter the proved the successful approach on the day with the Ford taking the chequered flag.

As you’ll see from this highlights video, though, Hill was barely given a moment to rest with the Camaros of Olivier Hart, starting from second, and Rob Huff, starting from third, giving the hard-driven Capri a hard time for the whole race. In the end, it was fellow BTCC star Huff that followed Hill across the line. Alas, neither Chevrolet could do enough to keep Hill from the podium.

And who couldn’t help but root for Hill, who feared he’d thrown away his chance of even starting the race when his car ended up in the tyre wall during qualifying.