Jake Black

**Jake Black** (born 24 January 2001) is a British racing driver currently racing in the British Touring Car Championship for MG. Elsewhere, Black won the 1995 Yugo Challenge. He is also the 1997 British Touring Car Championship Independents champion.

## Touring Cars

### British Touring Car Championship

**1994**

Black made his debut for the independent Maxted Motorsport team at the 4th round at Brands Hatch. Round 6 would see Black score 5th place, proving to be the best result for an independent throughout 1994. After 2 more weekends running for the Maxted Motorsport team, Black would be promoted to the works Toyota Castrol Team. His first weekend for the team would prove a success, with him scoring podium positions in races 2 and 3. He would however have to wait until race 2 of Knockhill to secure his first of 4 victories, battling hard against Volvo's Mike Bell.

Black would enter the Touring Car World Cup for 1994 with the Bemani Motorenbau Team with the car which had raced in the German Super Tourenwagen Cup for 1994, as well as in the 1994 Schweizer Tourenwagen Meisterschaft. Once again, Mike Bell would be his main rival throughout race 1, losing out on the second step of the podium to him. Race 2 would see Black create a gap over the field in the early stages, but have to defend hard against Nordauto Engineering's 1994 Champion, Lorenzo Turri to take victory.

**1995**

1995 see's Black continue with Toyota with Team Toyota GB teaming up with friend Ted Hough. Initial testing of this seasons Toyota would prove difficult, but Black was able to get the car onto the podium in all 3 races by rounds 4-6 at Donington National. Throughout the early and mid season, Black remained one of the strong 5 contenders battling for the title. Black would achieve similar success to his 1994 campaign with consistent podium finishes and 2 race wins, however mechanical issues late into the season would end his title chances. Black would return to form in the final round of the season, Brands Hatch GP. Race 1 saw black starting on the second row and battled hard for the podium places throughout ended a strong 2nd. Race 2 saw once again mechanical failures plunder his race. Battling from the back of the pack al the way up to 6th his engine would let go with 3 laps to go. Early into Race 3, independent runner-up Michael Sneath would lead the pack resulting in the manufacturer entries building up behind. This race would also see Ted Hough achieve his 2nd podium in the 1995 season, and the first double-podium for Toyota since 1992. Black would fight his was to the lead of the race, with 2 laps to go. Daniel Hurlock, driving for the title would snatch the win back around the outside of the final corner with a photo finish across the line. Blacks 1995 season was arguably not as strong as his 1994 manufacturer outings, however mechanical issues and troubles adapting to the new 1995 package would play a part in this.

**Yugo Challenge**

Alongside the 1995 British Touring Car Championship, Black would enter the Yugo Challenge support series under the Kopercapodistria Dirkaska Ekipa team name. Although never having raced at the Birmingham Superprix, Black would excel taking victory at the opening round. Black would then carry this momentum into Brands Hatch with a second concurring victory. Donington Park would see Black finish a very respectable 2nd, a tenth of a second behind Ted Hough. Throughout the season Black would win 5 out of the 10 races, and finish on the podium 8 times. Scoring points in every race meeting ensured the inaugural Yugo Challenge title for Black.

**1996**

The 1996 season campaign would see Black end his multi-year relationship with Toyota due to them pulling factory support for 1996. An offer from Audi Sport UK peaked interests as Black and Johannes Meles would sign for the new entry with a promising package.

## Motorsports career results

### Complete British Touring Car Championship results

Races in **bold** indicate pole position (1 point awarded just for first race) Races in *italics* indicate fastest lap (1 point awarded)

### Complete Yugo Challenge results

(Key) (results in **bold** indicate pole position; results in *italics* indicate fastest lap)

### Complete Subaru Cup results

(Key) (results in **bold** indicate pole position; results in *italics* indicate fastest lap)