Hills secures maiden race win in Dublin

He won one race and finished second in another over the two-day event at Mondello Park, in Ireland.

It was the first time since 2011 that a British Championship race had been held at the venue and Hills went into the fourth and fifth races of the season with a point to prove, after a disappointing end in round three.

Right from the first heat, Hills looked in impressive form. He got quicker and quicker as the opening day went on and clinched a hat-trick of heat wins.

Hills’ excellent form meant he was on pole position for the coveted A-Final. The Worthing talent headed into the first corner door-to-door with Darren Scott but, with the better line, he pulled into first place and put some clear air between him and his nearest opponent.

He timed his joker lap to perfection as he came out in second place but reclaimed the lead on the next lap and he did not look back as he calmly took the chequered flag.

The second day proved to be a much tougher test for Hills. After crashing out in the second heat, he required a fantastic performance in the third to book a spot in the A-Final.

Hills managed to do that by claiming first position and picking up the second successive fastest time of the day, which earned him a back row sixth place on the grid.

He made up two places going into the first corner and then a further position on the exit.

Hills then opted to take his joker lap to put himself into some clean air. That proved to be a decisive move and secured Hills a well-deserved second place in the race.

The Worthing racer was delighted with how the two races went and said: “Overall, this was up there with my best race weekends I’ve ever had.

“The car felt perfect from lap one on Saturday and I managed to win the first heat and it all went from there, really.

“Winning all the heats and putting it on pole for the final on Saturday, I was so nervous to get my first senior win. I managed to keep my nerves under control to come away with the win and I was over the moon.

“Sunday wasn’t quite as perfect, second in the first heat, and then a big crash in the second heat put me under real pressure, great work from my dad and the people who helped us to get the car back out for heat three.

“I needed a good result to secure a position in the A-final, I went absolutely flat out and managed to win heat three with the fastest time of the day.

“Starting sixth for the final was never going to be easy but to come away with second was very satisfying.”

The championship now moves back east to Pembrey in Wales for round six on July 26.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.worthingherald.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Worthing.news

3) Follow us on Twitter @Worthing_Herald

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Worthing Herald - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.