Team Shredded Wheat Racing with DUO took three hard-fought top ten finishes during a tumultuous weekend of action for rounds 19, 20 and 21 of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Knockhill.

The Scottish circuit provided plenty of drama for the Wrotham-based outfit as it looked to extend its Independent title lead. Sadly an early retirement for Mat Jackson derailed the squad’s weekend plans, before a spirited fight back from the newly-formed trio of Jackson, Rory Butcher and Martin Depper salvaged five point-scoring finishes to help keep the Independent Champions’ title hopes alive.

A strong performance during Saturday’s opening free practice sessions looked set to reward the Motorbase-run squad with a front row qualifying position. Starting in very wet conditions, Mat Jackson sat in P2 for over half of the afternoon qualifying session before a sudden change in track conditions saw the grid scramble across to slicks. Unluckily – in spite of briefly taking pole – Jackson was caught on the wrong side of the tumbling times in the closing minutes and slipped back to 12^th, ahead of team-mates Rory Butcher in P25 and Martin Depper in P31.

Sunday’s opener was a race to forget Team Shredded Wheat Racing with DUO. Jackson suffered a mechanical issue on the #3 Ford Focus ST during the warm-up lap and was forced to watch the race from the pits whilst his Motorbase crew raced to repair the stricken machine. Butcher survived his maiden BTCC run relatively unscathed after being forced off track on lap 15. The move cost him three places, but the 30-year-old did well to recover back to P25 whilst laden down with the 45kg of late entry ballast – closely followed across the line by tem-mate Depper in P27.

Starting from the back of the grid, Jackson pulled off a stunning start leap-frogging the Focus up the order before a huge first corner melee brought the racing to an abrupt end. Up ahead, Butcher and Depper both got caught up in the ensuing chaos with the majority of the grid having to take evasive action into the gravel. Butcher’s #6 Focus picked up damage on the front-left-hand wheel; however, the extended red flag period allowed the Motorbase crew enough time to complete repairs and the Scotsman re-joined the race for the restart.

Ballast-free and running on the soft tyre, Butcher delivered a sterling drive in the #6 Focus, charging through the pack as the laps unfolded, leading the way for team-mate Depper who followed the Fifer as the pair carved their way up the order. Butcher eventually brought the #6 Focus across the line in P10, an outstanding result for his 2^nd outing in the BTCC, closely followed by Depper who ended in P12. Jackson’s outstanding race-craft saw the Warwickshire-man make up an incredible 14 places on the grid to take 17^th at the chequered flag, sadly falling just outside the point-scoring zone.

The day seemed to be heading for a fairy-tale ending for Butcher’s debut weekend when he was drawn on pole for race three’s reverse grid. Sadly, the celebrations were short-lived when Josh Price was excluded from the race 2 result, promoting Butcher to P9 (and Depper to P11) which alas resulted in an amended grid for the final race, and Butcher moved back to P2.

Butcher’s initiation into the BTCC continued in race 3 with the Scotsman experiencing the full force of the fierce door-to-door racing that the championship is famed for. Coming under pressure from the charging pack, Butcher dug deep and after losing places in the opening laps, battling hard to take 9^th at the flag. Butcher’s brace of top ten finishes earned him the Jack Sears Trophy honours as the highest-scoring rookie from the weekend – an impression accolade on his debut weekend.

The final race of the day also netted a best-placed finish of the weekend for Jackson. Starting from P16, Jackson delivered a flawless drive, expertly weaving the #3 Ford through the field and into the top ten by the 4^th tour of the circuit. The 36-year-old continued to push forward, and in spite of two further safety car periods hindering his charge, crossed the line in 7^th.  Another solid performance from Depper was also rewarded with 12^th place and his second points finish of the weekend on the Scottish circuit.

Team Shredded Wheat Racing with DUO leave Scotland sitting in 2^nd place in the Independent Teams Standings – just 10 points off the current leaders – but having moved up into 6^th in the overall Team championship standings. Despite a difficult weekend, Mat Jackson retains his 2^nd place position in the Independent Drivers’ standings and 8^th placed spot in the overall championship.

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship now has a short, two-week break before heading to Rockingham Speedway in Northamptonshire for rounds 22, 23 and 24 on August 26/27.

Speaking after the weekend, Oly Collins said: “We were looking great in qualifying with not long to go and then it all turned on its head with the drying track and didn’t quite work out as we hoped. Coupled with the engine issue at the start of race 1 for Mat, it was always going to be a tough weekend. Race two showed the cars’ pace a little better however, and a sterling drive from all 3 drivers got us back up there.

“Martin had two great drives for points finishes in races 2 and 3. Rory was outstanding on his debut with his brace of top tens, and for Mat to come from last on the grid after the DNF to finish the day in P7 just shows what could have been.”

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