IT WAS an Easter weekend to forget for Mat Jackson as he failed to finish two of the three races in round two of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Donington Park.
The Henley-in-Arden star qualified 18th for Sunday’s opening race and made good progress through the field to finish 11th in his Team Shredded Wheat Racing With DUO Ford Focus.
After a long delay due to a serious accident in an F4 race, the BTCC drivers lined up for race two, but Jackson crashed out on lap one in a collision with Andrew Jordan.
Jordan was able to rejoin, but Jackson was not so lucky having struck the barrier and suffered front end damage.
Jackson’s #3 Focus was repaired in time for race three, in which the 35-year-old had a mountain to climb as he began in 31st place.
The race began in heavy rain and was soon red-flagged with numerous cars facing in all directions, both on and off the track.
After another delay, the race was restarted, but Jackson’s misery continued as he hit the tyre wall on the first lap and was again left wondering what might have been.
Immediately after the race Jackson tweeted: “Mood as miserable as the weather. We’ll just have to fix the car and come back to fight again another day.
“Big thanks to the team who worked so hard to fix the car for race three, only for it to get bent again!
“A big shout out to all the marshals and medical crew for their fantastic work.”
Jackson is 14th in the Drivers Championship with 27 points and seventh in the Independent standings with 45 points.
The BTCC resumes at Thruxton in Hampshire on May 6/7.
