BMW Dealer Team man leads the way at Rockingham.
Mat Jackson celebrated his first outing under the BMW Dealer Team UK banner by setting the pace in testing during the media day for the 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Rockingham.
Jackson left it till late in the session to jump to the head of the time-sheets, with a quick lap of 1min 24.385secs coming on his 37th lap of 38th. It left Jackson just ahead of the similar BMW 320si of Colin Turkington, with the Northern Irishman also setting his quickest lap on his penultimate tour of the day.
Defending champion Fabrizio Giovanardi was third quickest for Vauxhall ahead of impressive new-comer Stephen Jelley who made light of his lack of touring car experience to go fourth quickest after a busy day that saw him complete more than 60 laps of the Northamptonshire venue. Equally impressive in fifth place was Andrew Jordan, with the teenager admitting he had exceeded expectations in the John Guest Racing Honda Integra.
Tom Chilton was sixth ahead of the first Robertshaw Chevrolet in seventh thanks to Matt Allison. Matt Neal, debutant Steven Kane and SEAT's Darren Turner rounded out the top ten - that latter completing a shakedown of his diesel-powered Leon ahead of the first test proper for the car next week. Team-mate Jason Plato was only 15th quickest after an oil leak on his Leon left him with just five laps under his belt. Mike Jordan was another driver to hit problems when he lost a wheel on his Honda Integra.
Of the 27 cars entered for the season ahead, only five failed to hit the track, with Erkut not present on the day and Team Aircool and Team 48 Motorsport yet to receive their cars - although the latter did have a static Alfa Romeo 156 on display. Michael Doyle's Honda Civic was present, but with no engine fitted, the car spent its day in the garage.
Testing times - Rockingham, 12 March:
1. Mat Jackson BMW Dealer Team UK BMW 320si 1min 24.385secs I
2. Colin Turkington Team RAC BMW 320si 1min 24.573secs I
3. Fabrizio Giovanardi VX Racing Vauxhall Vectra 1min 24.581secs M
4. Stephen Jelley Team RAC BMW 320si 1min 24.789secs I
5. Andrew Jordan John Guest Racing Honda Integra 1min 24.871secs I B
6. Tom Chilton Team Halfords Honda Civic 1min 24.996secs
7. Matt Allison Robertshaw Racing Chevrolet Lacetti 1min 25.013secs I
8. Matt Neal VX Racing Vauxhall Vectra 1min 25.022secs M
9. Steven Kane Motorbase Performance BMW 320si 1min 25.142secs I
10. Darren Turner SEAT Sport UK SEAT Leon TDi 1min 25.190secs M
11. Gordon Shedden Team Halfords Honda Civic 1min 25.256secs
12. Mike Jordan John Guest Racing Honda Integra 1min 25.419secs I B
13. Tom Onslow-Cole VX Racing Vauxhall Vectra 1min 25.574secs M
14. Harry Vaulkhard Robertshaw Racing Chevrolet Lacetti 1min 25.805secs I
15. Jason Plato SEAT Sport UK SEAT Leon TDi 1min 26.035secs M
16. Rob Collard Motorbase Performance BMW 320si 1min 26.036secs I
17. Jason Hughes Kartworld Racing MG ZS 1min 26.409secs I
18. John George TH Motorsport Racing with JAG Honda Integra 1min 26.529secs I B
19. Alan Taylor Robertshaw Racing Honda Integra 1min 27.194secs I B
20. Chris Stockton BTC Racing Lexus IS200 1min 27.226secs I
21. Martyn Bell Arkas Racing with Sunshine.co.uk Vauxhall Astra 1min 28.606secs I B
22. Stuart Oliver BTC Racing Lexus IS200 1min 29.663secs I
