Team Hard retains Hill for third British Touring Car campaign

The 23-year-old joined the team in 2016 in a Toyota Avensis, and stayed there the following season to drive a Volkwagen CC.

Team Hard has formed a link-up with Brisky Racing for 2018, with Hill joining the already-confirmed Renault UK Clio Cup champion Mike Bushell and VW Cup graduate Bobby Thompson in a planned four-car line-up.

Hill's best result last season was sixth at Snetterton, while his career-best is a fifth place earned in 2016.

"Last season we had some great pace, but our results didn't really reflect just how competitive we really were," said Hill.

"With Geoff [Kingston, a leading BTCC engineer who has joined Team Hard for next season] on board and seeing the impact he has already made, implementing several fairly major technical changes to the car, I know we will be in a really strong position to regularly challenge at the front.

"Bobby, Mike and I will work well together and push each other along.

"Being paired with Mike to score team points leaves me confident we will be in the hunt for the independent teams' title.

"I'm also eligible for the Jack Sears Trophy so will do everything I can to challenge for that honour, and of course the independent drivers' championship."

Team principal Tony Gilham said Hill was "part of the family".

"We have seen what Jake can do, and we wanted to use his experience and technical strength as well as outright pace to help us continue making progress," he said.

"The addition of Brisky Racing has seen us move forward.

"We already have some great people here, and a fantastic level of support for the team, so with the combination of Geoff's input and Jake's speed we are very confident that we will be in the mix right from the start of the season."