AmDTuning.com is looking for an improvement in form with its Audi S3, along with Ollie Jackson wanting to add more points to his tally this weekend, as the British Touring Car Championship returns to action at Snetterton.
Jackson, who only has two points to his credit after the first half of the year, is in a bullish mood, following on from the recent two-day Dunlop test at the Norfolk-based circuit, having only had limited running on the Media Day before the season got underway.
“I’d hoped to have more points on the board going into the second half of the season, but there is no doubt that we are going into this weekend in the best shape we have been all year,” he explained, stating the progress that he has made this year hasn’t been reflected in the results the team has had.
“With Media Day having been the first time I’d driven the Audi, the test was the first real chance I’d had to do some meaningful running in the car away from a race weekend and we were able to try all the little things that it simply isn’t possible to do during a race meeting.”
The 32-year-old, who returned to the BTCC after a year’s hiatus, is confident that the 2.939-mile track will suit his car, having now been given the chance to test the Audi properly.
“The pace we showed on the first day in particular was really encouraging and showed what the Audi as a package is capable of,” said Jackson, who has experience of the circuit through his work with Lotus Cars, based nearby. “So I go into the weekend feeling more confident than I have done at any point this season so far.
“I have no doubt that points are a realistic target and if we can get a strong score under our belt, it would be the perfect way to start the second half of the season.”
With this in mind, Keith Cheetham joined the West Thurrock-based operation for the test back in June, having spent the year so far looking after the outfit’s British GT campaign, and moves into the lead engineering role to work extensively with Jackson.
Team boss Shaun Hollamby has been impressed with the pace that has now been unlocked in the Audi S3, ahead of the return to action in Norfolk this weekend, citing Cheetham’s experience as a valuable addition to move forwards.
“As a first real test of the year, we were able to have a proper look at a few things to see what worked and what didn’t, and we’re now looking forward to putting those changes into action,” he explained.
“It’s also going to be good to start working with Keith on the BTCC programme after he agreed to engineer the Audi, as he brings a wealth of experience and expertise that will help us in our bid to regularly push for points finishes.
“He has done a great job this season with our GT3 BMW, and his work ethic and mindset fits in well with the pressures that come from running a touring car on a busy weekend. He fit in well with the touring car team during the test and it was good to get some input from a fresh set of eyes.”
Hollamby also stated that it could prove to be the most competitive that the team has been all season, and is wanting to see Jackson being in the fight for points finishes, as well as pushing towards the top ten.