Mat Jackson takes Brands Hatch pole

Despite the domination of Colin Turkington in the two practice sessions – it was Mat Jackson in the BMW Dealer UK team who snatched pole at Brands Hatch. The pole time was 49.348 with a very happy Jackson.
“That was tough… 25 cars on a 1.2 mile circuit and only one dry line to take made things really hectic at the end,” said Jackson.

“I could see the others were getting faster all the time and we all had to go off-line to pick our way past a few slower cars. I guess I just found a bigger gap than everyone else.

“But it’s a great start to our 2008 season and hopefully the BMW’s rear-wheel-drive will give me the start I need tomorrow. The start will be important because getting ahead of the likes of Fabrizio, Colin or Jason for 24 laps is going to be very hard work,” said Jackson to BTCC.net.

Second was defending champion Fabrizio Giovanardi in his Vauxhall Vectra, 0.019 seconds behind. BMW-driver Colin Turkington took third place a further 0.104 seconds behind.

Jason Plato remained best SEAT-driver and snatched fourth place on the grid in his diesel powered SEAT Léon. His team mate Darren Turner was sixth, with Tom Onslow-Cole splitting the SEAT-duo with his Vauxhall Vectra.

Gordon Shedden took seventh position on the grid ahead of Steven Kane, Tom Chilton and Matt Neal rounding out top ten.