Ollie Jackson has set his sights on a strong points haul when the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship returns from its summer break at his home track on August 11/12.
Jackson, from Attleborough, has claimed ten points-finishes in his first season in the championship with the AmD Milltek Racing team but wants more in front of his home crowd.
The 28 year-old said: “We're hoping for top ten finishes at Snetterton which, in effect, is also a home circuit for the team as they're only just over the border in Essex! It's a circuit with plenty of fast corners and a smooth surface and the Golf likes that.
“I've always loved Snetterton. The changes have really altered the character of the circuit for the better. It now provides a lot of different types of corner which have made it into a completely new challenge, whilst adding to and maintaining most of the fast, ballsy corners that made it great before!”
One of the biggest challenges Jackson has faced in his rookie year is adapting to the cut-and-thrust nature of BTCC racing after time spent racing in GTs. The new 300 layout at Snetterton, he says, suits the championship’s style.
“Hamilton corner in particular is a great addition to the track. The new complex has also increased the number of overtaking opportunities which should make for plenty of position swapping.
“In GTs I was taking part in a two hour endurance race and it was more about maintaining a constant pace and keeping the car intact, whereas in BTCC it's about charging as hard as you can perhaps at the expense of a few body panels!”
Jackson is itching to get back on track after enjoying an action-packed first half of the season, and believes the most enjoyable races have not necessarily been the most successful.
“Round one at Brands Hatch was great in terms of the actual result,” he explained. “The first race at Croft was probably the best one of the lot even though I was a few places back in 11th.
“There was lots of close racing and swapping places which is what a touring car race should be all about. In terms of car-driver combination it's our best performance so far.”
