Mat Jackson was critical of MG’s Josh Cook for the contact in the second British Touring Car Championship race at Rockingham, which the Motorbase driver believes cost him a chance of fighting for victory.
Jackson was battling with Cook for second when the pair made contact at Yentwood, shortly after Jackson had passed Cook for the position.
Although Jackson then went on to finish in second, adding to his earlier seventh in race one, he was critical of Cook for the contact. The MG driver was later sent to the back of the grid for race three as a result of the incident.
“To pick up a P7 in race one was great and to go forward from that in race two and grab a podium was mega,” said Jackson. “Unfortunately as good as the car was, we just can’t touch the Subaru, which is just a joke.
“Race two was very nearly ruined by an incident with Cook which scuppered our progress and ability to go on and challenge for the win.
“He then managed to go and take himself and Matt Neal out of the race on the following lap so what goes around, comes around.”
Jackson was sent backwards four places for the race three reverse grid, and in the end he could only manage 15th whilst also running the unfavourable harder option tyre.
“Running the hard tyre and ballast in race three, we struggled like mad with the grip,” said Jackson. “We then got hit from pillar to post by everyone.
“It was good that we managed to salvage some points for the championship, but just not really the way that we wanted to finish the day.”
Motorbase Team Manager Oly Collins was also critical of some of the driving standards which his drivers were on the receiving end of at Rockingham.
“Our pace has been very strong today and we came away with some great results that put us back in the lead of the Indy Teams’ championship,”said Collins. “Mat’s drive in the second race was simply outstanding.
“Unfortunately we’ve also been on the receiving end of some dreadful driving standards. A lot of the serious incidents are still going unpunished, but fair drivers are being penalised for really minor incidents. The balance is wrong.
“All three of our drivers were beaten up today, which cost Martin [Depper] and Rory [Butcher] in particular much better results. It’s expensive to repair these cars and we’re not alone looking at some of the guys on the grid.
“I think a few drivers left their brains at home today.”