Mat Jackson back for seventh year with Motorbase Performance

Motorbase Performance have confirmed that 34-year-old Mat Jackson will return to drive for the team for the 2016 British Touring Car Championship season, alongside new team-mate Andrew Jordan, with the team fielding two Ford Focus STs with the latest Ford EcoBoost 2.0 litre turbocharged engine.

Jackson has driven for Motorbase since 2010, although the team only contended the last half of the 2015 season, where in 15 races Jackson scored eight podiums and four victories.

Jackson will compete under the Motorbase Performance banner, while team-mate Andy Jordan will run as Pirtek Racing. Jackson’s car will carry the logos of main sponsor Duo, which joined the team at Rockingham last season.

“We’ve known Mat for a long time and enjoyed one of our best periods together at the end of last season so the aim now is to carry that momentum on into this year and to focus on challenging at the front as soon as the first flag drops,” said team principal David Bartrum.

“There’s work to be done, particularly around the new suspension, but I can honestly say that if I was asked to pair two drivers together then Mat and Andrew would be my first choice all day long. They both tested with us at the end of last year and worked well together; there’s a great dynamic between them so I’m looking forward to seeing how they will bounce off of each other’s experience as time goes on.

“They may be in different coloured cars but they are very much team-mates and equal parts of the Motorbase stable. We have a great team behind them, so now is our time to shine.”

Jackson, a 25-time winner in the BTCC, added:

“It is great to be returning with Motorbase for 2016 and to be able to carry on from last year’s performance and mount our assault on the championship. I have to say huge thanks to DUO and to Motorbase for their continued loyalty and it’s fantastic to be able to bring DUO in for a full season this year.

“We’ve got an extensive testing programme planned which starts today, and with the new regulations it will be more important than ever before to get a head start as the season kick off at Brands in April.”

The team’s announcement confirms that Jackson completes their 2016 programme, scuppering earlier speculation that they are expanding to three cars for the year.