Jackson returns to winning ways at Donington Park
HENLEY-in-Arden's Mat Jackson won his first Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race of the season in a shortened opening race at Donington Park on Sunday.
Jackson moved to the front with a rapid start from third on the grid, leading from the first corner to the finish in a race brought to a halt by a crash between Matt Simpson and Dan Welch late in the 17-lapper, plus a fire for the Subaru Levorg of James Cole.
Jackson also led for much of race two before coming up just short in his quest to make it a double success.
The Motorbase Performance driver led from the start but behind him Rob Collard moved up from sixth on the grid then squeezed through to snatch the lead.
In the final race of the meeting, Matt Neal led home a Honda Yuasa Racing one-two to become the sixth different race winner in as many rounds this season.
Jackson said: "We managed to control race one all the way through.
"It’s always a good feeling to get that first win of the season under your belt and it’s encouraging that the car performed really well in race two, even with full ballast on board.
“Race three was tough. It started well but the combination of the ballast and soft tyre wasn’t ideal, so it was a bit of a frustrating end to a great weekend."