Jake Hill says he already feels at home with his new British Touring Car Championship machine after a successful first test at Brands Hatch.

The Goudhurst racer, 23, completed an afternoon’s running aboard his Team HARD Racing-run Volkswagen CC.

Hill, who competed in his first full season last year, joined teammates Michael Epps and Will Burns at the shakedown.

“It was a very solid test,” Hill said.

“Considering we started at lunchtime, we did about 60 laps and I am very pleased.

“The team built this car from scratch and it has been completely redone over the winter – it is effectively a new build and they have managed to get a proper little weapon out of it.”

Hill – who had only competed in one-off outings before his 2016 campaign – regularly challenged the frontrunners in an aging Toyota Avensis last season, scoring a career-high fifth-place finish at Silverstone.

"With the new suspension, the steering is fantastic..." - Jake Hill

He got his first taste of the new RML suspension kit at the Brands Hatch test, as well as the 2017 Swindon engine.

“You can feel the CC is longer than the Avensis, but it is very well balanced,” Hill added.

“It is not at its quickest now, but we just need to iron out everything.

“With the new suspension, the steering is fantastic and you get a lot more feel through the car so it is nice to drive.”

The Strood-based Team HARD operation was joined at the test by the Motorbase Performance squad.

The Wrotham team’s three Ford Focus drivers – Mat Jackson, Martin Depper and Luke Davenport – all took part.

The first three rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will be held at Brands Hatch on Sunday, April 2. Tickets cost £34 on the gate, with under-13s going free. Visit www.brandshatch.co.uk for details.