Jackson takes win and two podiums

Mon 17th August 2009 Warwickshire’s leading racing driver Mat Jackson was the runaway star of the HiQ British Touring Car Championship event at Knockhill today, taking a victory and two podium places at the difficult Scottish circuit.

The Racing Silverline driver put in one of the season’s best performances to score a third in race one, a second in race two and a victory in the final encounter of the day with his Chevrolet Lacetti. The 28 year-old, who is based in Henley-In-Arden, proudly claimed the hundredth victory for top motorsport team RML and scored an impressive tally of 38 points.

“It was just awesome,” said Mat. “Before we came here I really didn’t like this circuit but I might have to change my mind now! After I was blocked in qualifying and could only set the sixth-fastest time, I would have laughed you out of the room if you’d said I was going to get three podiums today. To come away with this is mega and I have to thank all the guys in the team for giving me such a great car. The Lacetti really is the car to beat at the moment.”

Mat’s race one podium came despite a difficult race in which he was pushed wide by another car and had two wheels on the grass while overtaking on the main straight. Mat showed his superior car control to win the position and carry on for the podium. After lining up third on the grid for the second race, he battled with multiple champion Fabrizio Giovanardi and claimed second at the flag. The grid lottery for the day’s final race saw him line up in fifth place and Mat’s mature racecraft allowed him to capitalise on incidents around him to claim his second victory of the season.

“To score three podiums in a weekend is a first for me in the BTCC,” said Mat. “We signed the deal to race so late this year and at times it has been an uphill battle. We’ve some bad luck this season, but today makes it all worthwhile.”