Adam Jones admitted the trip to Scotland had been a tough one for Team Aircool after engine problems hit his challenge in the eighth round of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Jones went into the weekend looking to continue taking the fight to Colin Turkington and Mat Jackson in the battle for the Independents' title but saw his weekend hit by an under-performing engine in the SEAT Leon.

Indeed, Jones could only qualify in eleventh place and finished eighth in race one before slipping outside the points in race two with twelfth.

Having fitted a different engine for race three, Jones took the flag in tenth place although he was disappointed that the weekend hadn't provided more for the GR Asia-run team.

“Its disappointing as there was an issue with the engine we used at Oulton and the spare we had was due a rebuild and was close to its mileage – it had no life left in it,” he said. “It was a gamble to use it in the third race as we changed the engine after race two, and we gained speed and gained time.

“In qualifying we were the slowest car down the straight and struggled for straight-line performance but the older engine, which should be knackered and good for nothing, did the job and was good for a 53.8, which was one of the quicker times. But by then it was too late as I'd been lingering in the middle where all the shit is kicking off! I tried to keep my nose clean and we have to be happy with where we ended up in the final race as it is hard starting where we did.”

With Silverstone next time out being a circuit where a strong engine will be key to success, Jones admitted he was hopeful that the team would get to the root of its problems ahead of the weekend.

“The engine is going away to France and hopefully they can sort the problem and get it rectified, but it doesn't give us long to get it back, get it in the car and get it to Silverstone,” he said. “We have to do it because Silverstone is a short circuit but its just three corners and long straights.

“We have to get it sorted because if we don't, we could be in a bit of bother.”