Mat Jackson snatched pole position for the opening round of the 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship on a rapidly drying Brands Hatch Indy circuit this afternoon.

Jackson, in the BMW Dealer Team UK 320si E90, set a best time of 49.348 seconds, edging out reigning champion Fabrizio Giovanardi by just 19 thousandths. Jackson and Giovanardi traded times in the final few minutes of the session as the track continued to dry out from an earlier shower. Jackson was on the top of the pile when red flags came out with a minute and a half of the session remaining – Michael Doyle and Chris Stockton having become stranded in the gravel at Paddock Hill Bend. The clerk of the course decided enough was enough and the chequered flag came out at the same time, ending the session early.

Following the session, Jackson said: “That sets us up well for tomorrow. The car feels good. The conditions were very tricky out there – there was only a very narrow dry line. We were lucky with the red flags, too. It’s good for the team, it’s good to reward everybody involved with the team for their work over the winter.”

Behind Jackson and Giovanardi, Colin Turkington was third fastest. The Team RAC driver commented: “I’m happy with that. It was a very difficult session, starting on wets and finishing on slicks. I’m pleased with third, it’s the right end of the grid!”

Jason Plato was one of many drivers to top the times during the thirty-minute session, but the former champion could only manage fourth at the end. Tom Onslow-Cole (Vauxhall) and Darren Turner (SEAT) will share the third row for tomorrow’s first race, ahead of Gordon Shedden and the impressive debutant Steven Kane in their Team Halfords Honda Civic and Motorbase Performance BMW respectively. Tom Chilton ended the session in ninth position, just ahead of the driver with whom he swapped seats for 2008, Matt Neal.

Eleventh quickest was another BMW driver making his BTCC debut – Stephen Jelley. Matt Allison (Robertshaw Racing Chevrolet Lacetti) was 12th, with Rob Collard 13th in the second Motorbase Performance BMW. Andrew Jordan will start the opening round from 14th spot, with Adam Jones 15th and Chris Stockton 16th. All 25 cars at Brands Hatch took part in the qualifying session, although Martyn Bell’s efforts were brought to a premature end when his trip into the Paddock Hill gravel trap caused a red flag after 20 minutes.

The opening round of the 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship gets underway at 11.30am on Sunday.