BTCC Driver of the Year vote: 4th

Having managed to win with two different versions of the Ford Focus, you vote Mat Jackson fourth in the BTCC Driver of the Year poll

Matt Salisbury_1

28 Dec 2012

Mat Jackson (GBR) Motorbase Performance Ford Focus ST
© Jakob Ebrey Photography

Top 10 BTCC Drivers of the Year 2012:4: Mat Jackson

Team: Redstone RacingCar: Ford Focus (S2000 - NGTC)Wins: 3Podiums: 6Pole Positions: 0Fastest laps: 3Championship points - Overall/Independents: 274/338Championship position - Overall/Independents: 7/4

The 2012 season turned out to be one of two halves for Mat Jackson after he and the Redstone Racing team elected to switch its attention to the future from the mid-way point of the year.

Jackson had started the campaign eager to challenge for the title and he looked like being a contender in the older S2000-based Ford Focus - taking victories at Donington Park and Thruxton and only missing out on a second win at Donington thanks to a boost infringement.

However, having lost ground after tougher weekends at Oulton Park and Croft, the decision was taken to switch its focus to the 2013 season by building up an NGTC-spec version of its Ford for the second half of the year.

The end result was that his title hopes came to an end early as he set about developing the new car - impressing first time out at Snetterton and then starring at Silverstone, where he took its first victory.

Seventh in the standings wasn't a reflection of his pace and he'll be a contender in 2013.

Crash.net's BTCC Driver of the Year:

5. Andrew Jordan6. Frank Wrathall7. Matt Neal8. Rob Collard9. Aron Smith10. Tom Onslow-Cole