Mat Jackson reflected on the 2017 British Touring Car Championship season as ‘not being the best run regulation-wise’ as the Motorbase driver ended the season eighth overall in the standings at Brands Hatch.
Jackson finished the season with a pair of fourth place finishes in race one and two at Brands Hatch, before taking seventh in the season finale.
Crucially, race three included light contact with the BMW of Colin Turkington, after Jackson himself was nudged off the circuit by Speedworks Motorsport’s Tom Ingram, something which the 36-year-old regretted being involved in.
“We had a great opening race to come through from 15th to take fourth and it was a great start to the weekend,” said Jackson. “Race two was mega. We were out at the front for most of the race before getting muscled out of it which was frustrating, but the car had great pace.
“The tricky conditions I think played into our hands. It helped to even out the playing field and throws the BOP out of the window.
“Race three was frustrating again, we had a strong start up to third from 7th but then we got drilled from behind.
“Unfortunately, it leaves a bad taste in the mouth that contact was made which ultimately cost Colin the championship which isn’t what any of us want to be involved in.”
The Motorbase driver reflected on the season as having been a mixed run – with the Ford driver not standing on the podium until the fifth meeting at Croft.
Jackson secured just three podium finishes during the campaign – and eighth in the standings represents his worst full-season since 2013 and his lowest podium tally since joining the top class of the BTCC in 2007.
“It’s been a difficult season. We certainly haven’t had the best run regulation-wise and that has hurt us this year. We’ve carried a handicap which was addressed half way through but it’s been hard to overcome.
“We move on though, and there’s a lot of work to go in during the winter. That’s the plan, to go away, put in the work and come back stronger next year and win the championship.”