Jake Hill is at a loss to explain his lack of pace on home soil after enduring a "tough" weekend in the British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch.

The 30-year-old from Platts Heath could only qualify 12th on Saturday - his worst starting position since joining the West Surrey Racing BMW squad in 2022.

He was "really pleased" to rise to fifth in race one, which became fourth when Northern Irishman Andrew Watson was hit with a six-second penalty, but a steering issue in the second encounter sent him into the gravel at Druids.

Team boss Dick Bennetts says he "feels sorry" for the Laser Tools-backed racer, adding a "mistake from our side cost him race two".

The retirement forced Hill to start from the back row in the final race, in which he climbed to 12th.

"It was one tough weekend," Hill said, after dropping from third to fourth in the standings.

"Sometimes they happen, I struggled for pace all weekend really.

"I have no answer for it as of yet but a huge thank you to everyone at the team for giving everything."

Hill is 36 points adrift of new series leader Ash Sutton (Ford Focus), who scored three podium finishes at Brands.

Colin Turkington won the first two races for Team BMW, before Scot Ronan Pearson (Hyundai i30N) claimed a maiden victory in the third encounter.

In the Mini Challenge, Adisham's Tom Ovenden missed out on a "dream" podium finish at his home circuit after struggling with set-up issues.

The 20-year-old took a best result of fifth in race three to keep hold of his championship lead in the Rookie Cup.

He retired from race one with a mechanical issue but climbed from 13th to sixth in the second event.

"We got better through the weekend and I think when we next come to Brands we will have a much better base to work off, which is good," Ovenden said.

"Overall, the points I scored over the weekend are much better than I first thought it would be, so I'm pleased.

"After a really tough weekend, I have got to take fifth and sixth."

Ovenden's EXCELR8 Motorsport team-mate Nathan Edwards (Tunbridge Wells) says he made a "massive step forward" at Brands, and sits 15 points adrift of his Kent rival in the Rookie Cup.

The former Renault Clio Cup racer scored a best result of fourth in race two, but a puncture forced him to retire in the third race.

Sevenoaks racer Marlo Cordell enjoyed a strong weekend, taking two podiums for the Jamsport Racing UK squad.

The British Touring Car Championship will return to Brands Hatch on October 5-6.