Motorbase Performance’s Ollie Jackson said he was “so happy” to secure his second-ever British Touring Car Championship podium in the opening race at Brands Hatch.
After securing his best qualifying result in third position yesterday, Jackson would initially drop back to fourth behind Colin Turkington after he and front row starter Cammish had slight contact heading into Paddock Hill Bend.
Jackson would then benefit from team-mate Rory Butcher suffering a front-left puncture on the penultimate lap after the Scot had looked set to convert pole to a maiden win for the Ford Focus ST.
That promoted Jackson up to third, to offer Wrothom-based Motorbase Performance a consolation podium at their local circuit.
“It’s a shame it’s at Rory’s expense, and overall for the team it’s a bit of a kicker,” Jackson told ITV.
“But my second podium, I’m so happy. It was tough running in the heat, but we got there in the end.”
With temperatures and humidity high in Kent this weekend, Jackson admitted keeping engine temperatures cool was difficult in the opening contest as he and other runners were forced to manage gaps between cars throughout the race.
“It was funny it’s difficult to follow anyone in the hot slipstream, you seem to be able to pull behind people and then the engine gets hot and you pull back again,” he explained.
“It looked like the guys following me were having the same problem as well, but in the car particularly under the safety car, all the heat soaks through the car so it’s pretty punishing.”
The second British Touring Car Championship encounter on the iconic Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit is scheduled to get underway at 13:30 BST.