First top ten for Motorbase’s new NGTC Ford Focus

Mat Jackson qualified in ninth place at Knockhill with the NGTC Ford Focus of Motorbase Performance, marking the team’s first top ten with the new car in only its second appearance in the BTCC.

Like many drivers, Jackson was caught out by the changing conditions in qualifying and believes the car could potentially have been further up the grid.

“It’s just a shame as there was literally a two lap window, we tried to make changes to improve it and the heavens opened and we couldn’t show what the car had got,” said Jackson to TouringCarTimes. “But it’s the same for everyone else, we’re all at the same circuit and have the same time to do the job, but it’s the first top nine, we’re making progress.”

The team tested at Brands Hatch just after the last race at Snetterton which was the first proper test for the team which has helped the team ahead of this weekend’s race at Knockhill, but the main focus is to work on the car in the one month break to the next round at Rockingham.

“(It was the) first test that we’ve had, we learned a bit but it unfortunately it was cut short because of the weather, but every change we make on the car is a step forward because we know whether it’s right and wrong and what’s making it better and what’s making it worse.”