Mat Jackson aims to grab a brace of victories from the front at Brands Hatch GP on Sunday, having claimed a third consecutive pole position ahead of the final round of the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season.
The Motorbase Performance squad took pole position at their home circuit in Kent thanks to the efforts of Jackson, the Ford Focus ST driver looking to add to his two victories at Rockingham and Silverstone.
Speaking to TCF afterwards, Jackson said: “I’m very pleased. The car’s going very well and we’re on pole by a tenth of a second over the BMR VW, so it’s close and thankfully we’re on the right end of that tenth.
“It puts us in the best place for tomorrow and, fingers crossed, we can get away well off the line and pull that gap. It’s never going to be that easy though.
“All we can do is get our heads down and try to get away, plus get the fastest lap for race two. Then the game changes if we have 75kgs and Gordon will be back onto us.”
Jackson has now collected three pole positions on the bounce in the BTCC, Motorbase having previously never taken pole position in qualifying since their arrival to touring cars back in 2006.
The pole man praised the local outfit, adding: “It’s testament to the guys in the whole team, plus the car and the engine.
“The car is just unbelievable to drive and the amount of speed we can now take into the apex of corners is incredible. The car is in the window and puts us in great shape for tomorrow.”
A selection of Jackson and Motorbase’s opposition have had opinions on the power of the Ford Focus ST engine since its return at Snetterton in August, Jackson adding his own version on the argument.
“It’s another thing coupling a chassis to go with a good engine and vice versa. You’ve got to have every aspect of it working to get the most out of any part of the car.”
