General News

Jackson ecstatic with win

Mat Jackson has expressed great satisfaction at winning yesterday’s Dunlop British Touring Car Championship season finale at Thruxton because he says it underlines how strong his family-run team has become in its debut season in the series.

Jackson used the ‘catapult’ effect of his BMW’s rear-wheel-drive to pass front-row starters Tom Coronel (SEAT) and Alain Menu (Vauxhall) to take an immediate lead at the start of race three. But rival BMW driver Colin Turkington went with him and the pair became embroiled in a great battle for victory until the latter, trying to overtake into the chicane, spun down to 11th.

That left Jackson clear for his second win in what has been a stunning debut season in the BTCC for him and his small Jacksons MSport team with its ex-Andy Priaulx BMW 320si. The result ensured he finished the season seventh overall in the final BTCC Drivers' table and runner-up to Turkington in the Independent standings which he had led two meetings ago.

Jackson, aged 26, said: “What a fantastic way for everyone in the team to end what has been an incredible first season for us. People always remember your last result and winning just as we go into the off-season is really important.

“This really shows that our first win at Oulton Park in June wasn’t a one-off wonder. We have achieved so much in our first season of competing in what is by far the most professional motor racing series in Britain and one of the very top championships in the world.

“Our budget may have been only a fraction of what some of the bigger, more established teams have but we’ve consistently been at the sharp end and rattled their cages. Yes, there have been some tough moments along the way, but that’s all part of the learning process for the future.

“An example of that is the terrible meeting we had at Thruxton in May when we suffered set-up problems which led to a mechanical failure and three non scores. Five months on and look how we’ve learnt and turned that around to our advantage – we’ve come back to the same circuit and beaten the very best in the business.”

Jackson said that he and his team – owned by his father Tony and managed by older brother Dan – had been overwhelmed with the support from the crowds on race days as their season gained momentum.

He added: “The public support we’ve had has been astonishing – everyone we’ve met, young and old, has had a kind word and I’ve been asked to sign all sorts of things, even body parts! But it’s been a pleasure. It’s also great for our sponsors who have played such an important role in our successes this year. Thank you so much to everyone who’s got behind us.”