Mat Jackson says pole was probably out of reach

Mat Jackson took the best qualifying result for Motorbase Performance’s new NGTC Ford Focus ST at Silverstone, qualifying a provisional second on the grid behind the MG of Jason Plato, but believes an outright pole was probably impossible.

Jackson’s the top independent driver on the grid with second, qualifying 0.253 seconds behind Plato, but on whether or not he could have beaten the two-time champion to pole, Jackson remarked: “Two-tenths around here is a lot, two-hundredths is achievable.”

“Looking forward into the race, we’re starting off of the front row but we’ve got a BMW on P4 which is clearly going to get a blinding start, so I don’t expect it’s going to be an easy race.”

“It’s a circuit I enjoy, and the Ford goes well around here, and hopefully we can put some more podiums on the board.”

Jackson’s second place on the grid came after a Team ES Racing’s Dave Newsham lost his fastest time after cutting Copse, but the team have indicated their intention to appeal the decision as the warning stating the team were under investigation was removed from the screen, implying no penalty was forthcoming so the team sat out the rest of the session comfortable with their time.