The Jackson MSport team insists it is ready to fight for the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship in 2009 despite the announcement that Accident Exchange is to end its sponsorship for the coming season.

Accident Exchange came in as a primary backer of the BMW squad for 2008, which it rebranded as BMW Dealer Team UK for its second season on the grid.

After a fine debut campaign in 2007, Mat Jackson once again emerged as one of the stars of the year, taking five wins – equal with title winner Fabrizio Giovanardi – to take second in the championship standings on Finals Day; a fine late season run allowing him to overhaul the SEAT of Jason Plato.

While the loss of the Accident Exchange sponsorship comes at a difficult time for the team as possible backers feel the effects of the current economic downturn, team principal Tony Jackson said that the squad was fully focused on being on the grid again in 2009, where Jackson will be one of the favourites for the title.

"Jacksons Motorsport still very much exists and we fully intend being on the BTCC grid in 2009," Jackson Sr told the official series website. "Its business as usual for us – we were there before Accident Exchange under our own team banner in 2007 and, as the saying goes, one door closes and another opens...

"It's of course unfortunate that we have lost Accident Exchange due to the current economic climate. It has been a very beneficial sponsor and we'd like to thank the company for all it's done for us in enabling Mat and the team to challenge for race wins and the BTCC title in 2008.

"We wish it well in its business battles and maybe one day in the future we'll be able to team up together again."