Henley-in-Arden's Mat Jackson again sprayed the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship podium champagne with a third place finish at the Croft circuit yesterday. Mat actually finished all three races competitively in the points and as a result has moved up to seventh in the outright championship standings.

Mat's excellent third place in his family-run Jacksons MSport team's BMW 320si E90 followed ninth and fourth positions in the day's opening two races and marked the third time in four BTCC rounds that he has stood on the podium.

His return to form has also seen him and his team progress up the Independents Drivers and Teams championships. However, Mat had to contend with a unique problem inside his car all weekend that cramped his driving style as he explains: "The new race boots I've got are too tight and my right foot kept going to sleep. This made braking and healing and toeing on the accelerator difficult at times and cost me time. I'll be buying a bigger size for the next rounds!"

On Saturday Mat qualified a strong ninth, although wasn't entirely satisfied with his car's set-up. This was the same at the end of race one, even though he was able to rattle the factory Vauxhall Vectra of Tom Chilton for eighth position.

Changes to provide the #48 BMW with greater traction were made and from ninth on the grid in race two Mat made an electrifying start to challenge the SEAT Leon of championship leader Jason Plato for fifth position into the first corner. But explains Mat: "A few corners later we were side by side and he forced me out wide and several others got past. If I was in his position I'd have done the same! But I could already see that it was going to become a physical race and it would be important to bide my time." Indeed, Mat would eventually cross the line in fourth position thanks to wisely keeping clear of incidents in front of him.

Then came his third position finish. With the top nine finishers in race two reversed to form the front rows of the starting grid, Mat lined up in sixth position. After the opening two corners he was up to third and challenging the similar Team RAC car of Tom Onslow-Cole for second. Mat says: "The RAC cars probably had better race pace today so I knew I had to make a move straight away. I went for it but Tom defended well and I slid a little wide.

After that it was a case of preserving my place. Gordon Shedden started closing on me in the last few laps but I'd got him covered.

Mat adds: "We've had three great results today, we're back to the form we're capable of and in there fighting with the big four teams. They have greater resources and have had the luxury of further developing their cars since Thruxton whereas we've had to concentrate on rebuilding our car back at our workshop. After the problems we had at Thruxton this is a great way to bounce back for everyone who works in the team, our sponsors and supporters."

Mat's next big date is his 26th birthday June 10th. He and the Jacksons MSport team will return to BTCC action at the swooping Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire on June 24th.