Team Shredded Wheat Racing with DUO has stated its intent on retaining its Independent Teams’ title as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship arrives at Rockingham Speedway circuit this weekend. 
Back to a three-car line-up, following the recent addition of BTCC rookie Rory Butcher alongside 31-times-race-winner Mat Jackson and team-mate Martin Depper, the Motorbase-run squad has its sights firmly set on closing the 10 point gap at the top of Indy Teams’ standings on the oval track.
Jackson’s early retirement from race 1 last time out at Knockhill, put paid to the 36-year-old’s chances of a winning weekend. A strong fight-back from the Wrotham-based squad however saw Jackson, Butcher and Depper collect five points-scoring finishes from the weekend – salvaging what had been a disastrous start for the team in Scotland.
Rockingham has been a happy hunting ground for Motorbase over the years, with the team amassing an impressive collection of silverware in recent seasons. Jackson and then team-mate Andrew Jordan shared the spoils here last season with a 2nd placed podium apiece and a brace of Independent wins. Jackson also claimed Motorbase’s first ever BTCC pole position at the Northamptonshire track in 2015, with a record-breaking qualifying performance in the Ford Focus ST – before going on to claim the opening race win and a further 2nd placed podium.
“Rockingham is notoriously hard on tyres;” said Team Manager Oly Collins. “That will play a big part in this weekend’s results as everyone tries to get the best out of the tyres whilst lasting the full race distance. It may help the rear wheel drive cars over a race distance. It depends who manages it best. The track has a good mixture of high and low speed corners and despite the long straight and high speed turn 1, it’s the infield that you need to concentrate on for the lap time.”
“Martin and Rory both went well at Knockhill so hopefully they can keep that momentum going into this weekend;” Collins added. “Mat is quite light on ballast so are aiming to get back to qualifying near the front of the pack. Rockingham suits the Ford’s chassis, and in particular Mat has always gone well there.”
Just ten points separate 2nd placed Team Shredded Wheat Racing with DUO from current Independent Teams leaders Speedworks, with Mat Jackson sitting pretty in 2nd place behind in the Independent Drivers title fight as the BTCC enters the business end of the season, with just three events left to run.
“There’s not long left in the championship now and the fight at the top of the Independents is very tight between Motorbase, Speedworks and Eurotech, but we’ll keep aiming for outright pace and then the Independent results will come automatically;” continued Collins.
“When you look at the Independent drivers with Mat, Ingram, Goff, and Morgan; they’re all proven to be capable of winning outright so it’s a really competitive championship this year. I think with the level of competition this year, we will most likely see it go down to the wire again at Brands Hatch in October.”
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