Came. Saw. Conquered.
2024 BTCC Champion Jake Hill & Charlie Hart - FunCup UK, Oulton Park
At the weekend, we were back in the North for a special guest round for the season finale of the FunCup Endurance series at Oulton Park!
Charlie partnered with 2024 BTCC Champion, Jake Hill, and Morpheus Motorsport to forge a formidable partnership as they sought to chase down the elusive and never before won £10,000 prize to the driver(s) that win on their FunCup racing debut.
Being an endurance series, comprising of a 1HR sprint, and a 3HR endurance the time behind the wheel was significantly more than previous races Charlie was used to, going from 20 minutes to 45+ minutes! Not only that, the pit stops were a challenge in themselves, ensuring you got in or out of the car in as little time as possible which is much easier said than done.
Race One was close. Starting P6 there was work to do to make sure the boys could have a chance of clinching the elusive victory on debut. Within the first two laps, Jake had managed to bring the car up to the lead. With numerous safety cars and a red flag, Charlie jumped into the car and maintained the race lead for the majority of his stint, eventually dropping a place after a monster battle with Ted Bradbury, who Charlie has raced against since he was 6 years old, bringing the car across the line in 2nd - securing £3,000 in prize money, and a well deserved trip to the podium.
The second race brought the big showdown. Starting in 13th, and with Charlie having to complete a double stint and finish the race, the pressure was on. Another successful opening lap by Jake saw the #110 car move up to P1. Following a safety car restart, it was time for Charlie’s stint. After some intense battles on track, the Team we’re able to secure P2 for the second race, and make it a double trip to the podium.
Overall, a fantastic debut in FunCup racing, which has seen tremendous growth in recent years owing to its ultra competitive racing, and sizeable, passionate crowds of supporters who love to see their favourite drivers battle it out for victory.
With the final race of the season now done and dusted, its time to turn our attention to plans for 2025, which are looking very exciting indeed! Stay tuned for more updates over the next few weeks, where we’re hoping to share news on what Charlie might be racing next, alongside updates on how he’s preparing for his next challenge over the winter break.
