Jackson takes victory in first BTCC race in appalling wet conditions at Thruxton
Mat Jackson has taken victory in the first British Touring Car race in appallingly wet conditions at Thruxton
Jackson's Motorbase Ford Focus made a great start to challenge front-row men Andrew Jordan (Eurotech Honda Civic) and Jason Plato (works MG6) into the first corner.
Three into one didn't quite go and slight contact sent Jordan into the barriers on the inside and Plato onto the grass on the outside.
Jackson was left to build a big lead, which stood at 2.8 seconds by the end of lap one, by which time Dave Newsham's ES Racing Vauxhall Vectra had overcome the Dynojet Toyota Avensis of Frank Wrathall for second.
As Newhsam pulled clear chasing Jackson, Wrathall fell prey to Rob Collard's WSR BMW and then the recovering Plato. He had fallen as low as fifth, but overtook Wrathall and then Collard to run third.
Plato was chipping away at the gap to the Newsham when Liam Griffin crashed his Motorbase Focus at Allard, bringing out the safety car and ultimately the red flags.
The result was then called, with Jackson taking his second win of the year from Newsham, Plato, Collard, and Wrathall.
Next came one of the stars of the race. After his qualifying woes, Gordon Shedden started 18th in his works Honda Civic. But he charged through the field, including repassing team-mate Matt Neal (also recovering from a 19th-place start), and set fastest lap.
Shedden overtook Aron Smith's Motorbase Focus just before the premature end to the race to secure a fine sixth.
Tony Gilham (S2000 Honda) and Lea Wood (Vauxhall Vectra) finished behind Smith after fine drives in the difficult conditions, while Neal wound up 10th.
Results - 14 laps:
Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap 1. Mat Jackson Motorbase Ford 22m36.478s 2. Dave Newsham ES Vauxhall + 0.876s 3. Jason Plato Triple 8 MG + 1.999s 4. Rob Collard WSR BMW + 2.597s 5. Frank Wrathall Dynojet Toyota + 3.367s 6. Gordon Shedden Dynamics Honda + 4.744s 7. Aron Smith Motorbase Ford + 5.522s 8. Tom Onslow-Cole WSR BMW + 6.204s 9. Lea Wood Wood Vauxhall + 7.212s 10. Matt Neal Dynamics Honda + 7.971s 11. Tony Gilham Gilham Honda + 9.072s 12. Ollie Jackson AmD Volkswagen + 9.616s 13. Jeff Smith Eurotech Honda + 10.098s 14. Nick Foster WSR BMW + 10.973s 15. Chris James ES Vauxhall + 11.186s 16. Andy Neate Triple 8 MG + 12.402s Retirements: Tony Hughes Speedworks Toyota 10 laps Liam Griffin Motorbase Ford 9 laps Adam Morgan Speedworks Toyota 7 laps Rob Austin Austin Audi 2 laps Andrew Jordan Eurotech Honda 0 laps Daniel Welch Welch Proton 0 laps
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