Mat Jackson heads into the eighth round of the 2012 British Touring Car Championship at the Rockingham Motor Speedway with the belief that his Redstone Racing NGTC Ford Focus ST can be a race winner.
Having not stood on the podium since Thruxton at the end of April, Jackson has slipped down the Championship standings to seventh after difficult weekends at Oulton Park and Croft.
“I want to improve on my current 7th place in the championship – in fact I think a top-three finish is still possible. We’re going to Rockingham and also Silverstone and Brands Hatch which follow targeting wins and podium results. Much will depend on how well we have adapted the car using the information gained from the last two events. There is still a chance of winning the Independents’ trophy but I’m always thinking much more about the main championship.”
Snetterton saw the Henley-in-Arden racer give the #4 Ford Focus a solid debut weekend having challenged for the podium in the final race of the weekend. Knockhill two weeks later also gave Jackson the chance to run towards the front but he was forced to retire from the second race due to a damaged exhaust.
In the break between Knockhill and Rockingham, the Motorbase Performance run Redstone Racing team have been busy working on the NGTC Ford Focus ahead of Rockingham.
“In just those two events at two very different kinds of circuit we’ve learnt lots about the car and in the three weeks since, the team has continued to work relentlessly in further fine-tuning the car in lots of little different areas that will all add up. I’m more impressed than ever by the Motorbase Performance outfit that runs the Redstone Racing cars,” enthused the 18 time BTCC race winner.
“I also enjoy the Rockingham circuit we’ll be racing on this weekend, I’ve won there before and I think it will suit the Focus’ attributes which are its excellent handling and power from the Mountune Ford engine we use,” concluded Jackson.