Mat Jackson has become the sixth different winner in six BTCC races this season after securing victory in the final race of the weekend at Thruxton.

In his first weekend at the wheel of the RML Chevrolet Lacetti, Jackson took the flag ahead of Adam Jones and James Thompson to celebrate his return to the series in style, and repeat the victory enjoyed by Jason Plato on his debut in the Chevrolet at Brands Hatch.

Jackson had started second on the grid but moved straight into the lead ahead of a slow-starting Paul O'Neill, who was also overhauled by Jones off the start, while Rob Collard made the most of the starting prowess of his BMW 320si to jump up to fourth.

Jackson, runner up in the series last season, quickly set about trying to pull out a lead while behind, Jones was under pressure from O'Neill who in turn had Collard on his tail. On lap four, Collard made a move for third but was slowed as O'Neill defended which allowed Thompson to get a run on the BMW.

Despite being forced to take to the grass and getting his car well out of shape, Thompson was able to make a move stick through Goodwood to go fourth, but the pass had allowed the top three to break away.

O'Neill got ahead of Jones on lap nine – having pressured the Cartridge World man into an error at the chicane a lap earlier – but the field was then bunched up when the Safety Car came out after John George went off heavily into the barriers at Goodwood after appearing to suffer a puncture.

Jackson left the field trailing on the restart and stormed away to victory but there was heartbreak for O'Neill who was forced to slow in the sunshine.co.uk Honda Integra after picking up a puncture. Jones therefore took second and the first podium for his new SEAT team, while Thompson celebrated his return to the BTCC with the final place on the podium.

Thompson's third place came after he was forced to defend on the final lap from Matt Neal who was forced wide and lost places to Collard, Jason Plato and Stephen Jelley, with Plato also passing Collard in one move to take fourth ahead of his fellow Brands Hatch winner and Jelley, with Neal forced to settle for seventh.

Earlier race winners Fabrizio Giovanardi and Colin Turkington took eighth and ninth, while Dave Pinkney picked up his first point of the season in tenth.

Elsewhere, a spin saw Johnny Adam finish down in twelfth, while Andrew Jordan could manage only 16th after being forced to pit during the race. A day to forget for Dan Eaves was compounded by a high-speed incident where he went airbourne over the front of Tom Chilton's Ford Focus ST, while Liam McMillan crashed out heavily on the final lap of the race although he escaped uninjured from his damaged SEAT Toledo.

For results of race three, CLICK HERE.