Mat Jackson ready for Knockhill

Mat Jackson will be able to try and protect his lead in the Independents Drivers’ championship at Knockhill after his Jacksons MSport team successfully completed rebuilding his battered BMW in time for the long journey north for the Scottish circuit’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car rounds.

Jackson’s forthcoming participation at Knockhill was in question because of the heavy rear-end damage his BMW suffered in a multiple pile-up at Brands, even though he still managed to reclaim the lead of the privateers’ table.

The 26-year-old praised his team’s efforts and also thanked BTCC rival Adam Jones’ family and sponsor (and former BTCC racer) Nick Whale in easing the workload.

Jackson said: “We had to cancel all bank holiday weekend leave for the team and everyone’s been flat out stripping down the car, straightening it out and rebuilding it. It’s been an almighty effort from involved. Everyone has pulled their weight and it’s just been a great team effort.

“On behalf of our team, a big thank you to Adam Jones’s family which run Bodywork Solihull and has put on shift workers over the weekend to get the car back into shape. Its help has been invaluable. Nick Whale BMW has also been of great support and managed to supply the parts we needed in time.”

Jackson is hoping for dry weather at Knockhill as he believes his BMW’s rear-wheel-drive could struggle in wet conditions, particularly over the Scottish circuit’s kerbs.

He added: “We don’t want it too wet – the BMW’s rear-wheel-drive is fine if its greasy, but a really wet surface hurts us. The kerbs at Knockhill in some places are also very severe so it’ll be important not to overstep the mark on them in a RWD car.”