Home hero Mat Jackson in top ten

Sat 16th May 2009 Warwickshire racer Mat Jackson will start the first of tomorrow’s [Sunday’s] three HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship races at Donington Park from inside the top ten after a close qualifying session in his Racing Silverline Chevrolet Lacetti.

Mat’s best time of 1m13.836sec at the Leicestershire circuit left him in tenth position, despite being just half a second shy of the pole time. The 27-year-old from Henley-In-Arden began from exactly the same position last time out at Thruxton - and went on to take victory in race three. It is a feat he hopes to repeat at his home circuit tomorrow with his RML-run car.

“I’d have loved to be a bit higher up the grid, but it’s very tight at the top,” he commented. “Having said that, I started from tenth in race one at Thruxton and won in race three so it just goes to show what is possible. It’s only my second race weekend in the Chevrolet and I’m still settling in with the new car and team, but it’s great to have the support of a top outfit like RML.”

Mat is competing alongside Jason Plato under the Racing Silverline banner for the first time this weekend, and is also backed by Paul Castle Consultancy (PCC), Auto Windscreens and Pinnacle Transportation. He said that racing in front of his home crowd is sure to give him an extra boost tomorrow, when the BTCC order could be shaken up by bad weather.

“We keep hearing different forecasts for the weather on raceday and I’ve not driven the Lacetti in the wet,” he added. “Whatever happens I know there will be plenty of fans from the Midlands cheering us on. I just want to get on with the racing now and show them what I can do.”