Ollie Jackson joins AmD for 2012 BTCC campaign
Ollie Jackson will race for AmD Tuning in the British Touring Car Championship this year
Jackson, 27, made his BTCC debut at the tail end of 2011 with the Triple 8 Vauxhall squad, but will now race AmD's Volkswagen Golf, which will again be powered by a Lehmann-prepared VW NGTC engine.
"After the two rounds last season in the Vectra, I knew the BTCC was where I wanted to be full-time in 2012 and I'm delighted that I've been able to agree a deal with AmD," Jackson said. "I'm really pleased to have a deal confirmed nice and early, which will give me time to carry out some decent testing before the opening rounds.
"Since I moved into car racing, I've never had a full testing programme before the season started, so its good that I'll be able to spend some meaningful time behind the wheel of the Golf, especially as I don't have much experience of front-wheel drive.
"My initial aim is to see where I stand when we get to Brands Hatch and then make improvements and move forwards. However, the Golf is a proven car that showed good pace in 2011 and my target is to bring home top ten finishes as the year goes on. The team has welcomed me onboard and I can't wait to get started."
Team owner Shaun Hollamby, Tom Onslow-Cole and Martin Byford all raced the Golf under the AmD Milltek banner last year, its best result being a pair of seventh place scored by Onslow-Cole at Thruxton and Donington Park.
Hollamby is optimistic that Jackson, a former Porsche Carrera Cup GB Pro-Am 1 champion, can continue the improvements shown by the Golf last year, albeit without the support of former team partner Milltek, which is no longer involved on the racing side.
"We spoke to a number of drivers about 2012 and are delighted we have been able to agree a deal with Ollie, and agree a deal this early in the year," Hollamby said.
"He will get the chance to test the Volkswagen for the first time in mid-February and that will be the first part of a full test programme ahead of the new season. That is an important part of our plans for 2012 as it will be the first time we have been able to carry out a full testing programme before the season starts."
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