Mat Jackson returns to BTCC with RML run Lacetti
Discussion
Just like Plato, although Plato is not yet confirmed for Thruxton.
Autosport said:
Mat Jackson will return to the British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton this weekend after signing a deal to race an RML-run Chevrolet Lacetti.
Jackson, who won five times on his way to second place in last year's championship in a BMW run by his family Jackson MSport team, will drive a Lacetti as Jason Plato did in the season opener at Brands Hatch.
"Firstly, RML is one of the very best teams on the grid - its history and results show that," said Jackson. "Furthermore, it runs Chevrolet's cars in World Touring Cars so it knows the Lacetti inside out.
"Hopefully, this is the start of a new and very positive chapter in my career. It's the chance to move on from a very well run but nevertheless quite small team to a bigger entity.
"On top of that, there's the potential to compare myself against someone of Jason's calibre in identical machinery. This is why I am here - to race against the best drivers and improve my own performance. It's going to be tough to jump straight in and instantly get big results - I'll be going to Thruxton with just a quick shakedown in the car."
RML team boss Ray Mallock, who masterminded BTCC titles for Vauxhall's John Cleland in 1995 and Nissan's Laurent Aiello in 1999, said: "I'm delighted to welcome Mat to the team and to confirm that we will be appearing at the next event.
"I know I speak for everyone at the factory when I say we cannot wait to see Mat in the car.
"He really proved his enviable abilities last year - 10 podiums and a second place finish in the championship standings, competing against some far more experienced drivers just shows Mat really deserves to be on the grid in 2009.
"Combine this with the Lacetti favouring the high speed straights of Thruxton and it should prove to be an exciting pairing."
Plato, meanwhile, is yet to confirm whether he will be racing at Thruxton.
Jackson, who won five times on his way to second place in last year's championship in a BMW run by his family Jackson MSport team, will drive a Lacetti as Jason Plato did in the season opener at Brands Hatch.
"Firstly, RML is one of the very best teams on the grid - its history and results show that," said Jackson. "Furthermore, it runs Chevrolet's cars in World Touring Cars so it knows the Lacetti inside out.
"Hopefully, this is the start of a new and very positive chapter in my career. It's the chance to move on from a very well run but nevertheless quite small team to a bigger entity.
"On top of that, there's the potential to compare myself against someone of Jason's calibre in identical machinery. This is why I am here - to race against the best drivers and improve my own performance. It's going to be tough to jump straight in and instantly get big results - I'll be going to Thruxton with just a quick shakedown in the car."
RML team boss Ray Mallock, who masterminded BTCC titles for Vauxhall's John Cleland in 1995 and Nissan's Laurent Aiello in 1999, said: "I'm delighted to welcome Mat to the team and to confirm that we will be appearing at the next event.
"I know I speak for everyone at the factory when I say we cannot wait to see Mat in the car.
"He really proved his enviable abilities last year - 10 podiums and a second place finish in the championship standings, competing against some far more experienced drivers just shows Mat really deserves to be on the grid in 2009.
"Combine this with the Lacetti favouring the high speed straights of Thruxton and it should prove to be an exciting pairing."
Plato, meanwhile, is yet to confirm whether he will be racing at Thruxton.
Well, that's some good BTCC news for this year at least. It will be interesting to see how he gets on at Thruxton with FWD and from having little familiarisation time with the car. Plato's efforts at Brands suggested the car had a very strong engine - something particularly useful for this coming weekend.
He was very sideways in his old motor. Plato signed up for the rest of the season at RML alongside Jackson.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74723
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74723
Autosport said:
Jason Plato will continue to race an RML-run Chevrolet for the rest of the British Touring Car season.
The former champion drove a Lacetti in the season opener at Brands Hatch in what was then a one-off deal, but he has now confirmed a deal for the rest of the year.
RML, which runs the works Chevrolets in world championship, will continue to run the car for Plato, but under the Racing Silverline banner.
"I'm delighted," said Plato. "We caught lots of peoples' imaginations at Brands Hatch and had a load more interest, even though the world is having a bad time financially."
Plato will be joined at RML by Mat Jackson, who will race a second Lacetti, while another former champion, James Thompson, will also return to the series at Thruxton this weekend in a Team Dynamics Honda Civic.
"It's great James is back, he's a great character to have on the grid," Plato added. "We exchanged some pleasantries on the phone earlier this week and both subscribed to the view that we will probably make contact at some point at the weekend, even if it's just a gentle love tap."
The former champion drove a Lacetti in the season opener at Brands Hatch in what was then a one-off deal, but he has now confirmed a deal for the rest of the year.
RML, which runs the works Chevrolets in world championship, will continue to run the car for Plato, but under the Racing Silverline banner.
"I'm delighted," said Plato. "We caught lots of peoples' imaginations at Brands Hatch and had a load more interest, even though the world is having a bad time financially."
Plato will be joined at RML by Mat Jackson, who will race a second Lacetti, while another former champion, James Thompson, will also return to the series at Thruxton this weekend in a Team Dynamics Honda Civic.
"It's great James is back, he's a great character to have on the grid," Plato added. "We exchanged some pleasantries on the phone earlier this week and both subscribed to the view that we will probably make contact at some point at the weekend, even if it's just a gentle love tap."
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