The AmD with Cobra Exhausts team hope to bounce back to form at Silverstone this weekend, when the circuit plays host to the penultimate meeting of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season.
The West Thurrock-based outfit heads for the Northamptonshire circuit eager to perform well, following a tough weekend at Knockwhill, where Beavis Morgan sponsored Ollie Jackson and Sam Smelt managed a single race finish apiece at the wheel of their Audi S3s.
Tamworth-based Ollie had been on a solid run of form prior to Knockhill having taken three top twelve finishes in four races, with the 34-year-old hoping to return to that kind of form during the weekend ahead.
Ollie has scored points at Silverstone for the past two seasons and was only robbed of three strong finishes twelve months ago due to incidents caused by other drivers on track.
Should he pick up eight points across the weekend, Ollie would surpass his previous best points tally in the series and he goes into the weekend optimistic about pushing for a hat-trick of top 15 finishes.
The Knockhill weekend would also be tough for Sam, who endured a heavy accident in challenging weather conditions that ultimately ended his chances of opening his BTCC account.
Ollie Jackson, #48 AmD with Cobra Exhausts Audi S3, says: “I’m really looking forward to the weekend as Silverstone is a circuit that I always really enjoy. It’s also one where the car ran well last season, even if I didn’t pick up the end results that my pace deserved.
“After a difficult time at Knockhill, I’m hoping that we can have a bit more luck on our side and can push for some good results from the weekend.
“My target is to try and push for a top ten finish, but if we can come away from Silverstone with a solid performance in qualifying and three points finishes then I’d be delighted.”
Shaun Hollamby, AmD with Cobra Exhausts team principal, said:
“Having endured a tough weekend at Knockhill, we’re looking to put that one firmly behind us and will press the reset button going to Silverstone. We know the Audi was strong there last season as it was the circuit where we scored out best result, and hopefully there are more strong points to be hard this time around.
“Ollie has shown that he has the pace to run inside the points and that has to be the goal this weekend whilst it would also be great if Sam can get the points finish that he deserves at his home circuit. We’re optimistic about our chances and are fully focused on returning to the kind of form we showed earlier in the year.”
We wish Ollie and the team all the best for a successful weekend of racing.
Photo: Marc Waller