Mat Jackson frustrated with lost pole shot, but content with third

Motorbase Performance’s Mat Jackson will start the first race of the day at Donington Park from second on the grid in his Ford Focus ST, being dropped in the final moments to third behind the two Triple Eight MGs of Ashley Sutton and Josh Cook, going off while on a faster run.

Jackson found himself off the circuit at the Craner Curves just after claiming provisional pole position, but both Sutton and Cook were able to improve on the following lap, despite yellow flags out on the circuit, but both drivers were cleared of any wrongdoing and their times stood.

“I’m frustrated, it would have been great to have the pole, but third’s still good,” said Jackson to TouringCarTimes. “We’re at the right end of the grid, the session was a complete lottery,” he added.

“It’s frustrating, a lot of back markers were in the way (at the end of the session). Somebody went off and I think Dan (Welch) gave them room to rejoin the circuit which put me on the wet stuff.”

The 34-year-old will be chasing his first win since the Brands Hatch finale last year in the first race tomorrow in his ballast-free Ford Focus against the two MGs.

“Hopefully we can get a good start, hopefully we get the Focus off the line well and jump one or two spaces into Redgate.”