Motorbase Performance’s Ollie Jackson admitted he was “really emotional” after securing his first ever British Touring Car Championship victory after a tight battle with Tom Oliphant in the final contest at Silverstone.
Jackson used his front row start to great effect to jump reverse grid polesitter Tom Oliphant into Copse Corner and held position until the race was red-flagged on lap seven as his Motorbase team-mate Rory Butcher had a massive crash at Becketts.
Once the race restarted Jackson again nailed the start, comfortably leading Oliphant’s BMW before coming under pressure for the lead, with the pair trading paint as Oliphant tried the outside line through Brooklands but to no avail as a determined Jackson held on out front.
It wasn’t long before Oliphant attacked again, though, and the Brands Hatch race winner appeared to have made the move stick on Jackson at Copse Corner before the latter executed a neat switchback move on the exit to give himself the inside line for Becketts.
He would not relinquish the lead again thereafter with Oliphant coming under increasing pressure from Sutton behind, ultimately giving him the breathing space he needed to take his first series victory.
“I’m really really emotional,” said Jackson. “It was terrible obviously for Rory, thankfully it sounds like he’s okay.
“Amazing day, after not a brilliant qualifying, and to make it back up, to get a good start and to actually take the win is amazing, amazing. I’m living the dream.
“I wanted it. It’s taken long enough so I wasn’t going to give it away easily this time. I absolutely gave it my all.”