Airwaves Racing will be looking to carry on where they left off as they head into the second round of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship with Mat Jackson just 8 points off the championship leader Jason Plato and the team heading the Independents Team Championship.

A strong display at Brands Hatch in the season opener has left the team, who made the switch from BMW to Ford for this season, in a healthy position in the standings.

Mat Jackson, who achieved two podium finishes last time out, believes that they have every right to be confident at Donington Park. “I’m looking forward to Donington this weekend as I think it will suit our car well, and with the progress that we made at Brands Hatch, it looks likely that Donington could produce some great results for us,” said the 29-year old from Warwickshire.

Because of Mat’s position in the championship he’ll be carrying 36kg of success ballast into qualifying and race one and this is something that will concern Mat. “This could take the edge off our performance, as Donington is renowned for being the hardest circuit on brakes on the Championship calendar, but I guess that’s the price of success!”

Mat’s team-mate, Liam Griffin, wasn’t as successful at Brands Hatch but he’s sure to put that behind him heading into one of his favourite circuits on the calendar.

“The team have been fantastic and very supportive in trying to get me up to speed. I showed enough pace to realistically have a chance of a points score but I have got to get off the line better and be 100% committed from the first corner,” said Griffin ahead of only his second competitive race weekend in the Focus. “Donington is one of my favourite circuits so let’s see what it brings, with a bit of luck I can be on Rob Collard’s bumper at the end of the race and not the start!”

Dave Bartrum also commented on the weekend ahead with great enthusiasm and adding a pun in there which the sponsors would like. “It’s a fantastic circuit that we enjoy racing at, and in theory the Focus should do well round there. Hopefully, now that the pressure is off after Brands, Liam [Griffin] can kick start his season and pull in some good results and I’m confident that Mat [Jackson] will deliver when it matters most on the day. As ever we’re ready to ‘Kick Up a Gear’ and go racing!”

Photo Credit: Pete Mainey (www.psmmotorsportimages.co.uk)

James Mappin is the editor-in-chief covering the British Touring Car Championship. You can contact him at james@btcccrazy.co.uk, on twitter @BTCCCrazy or on his personal twitter account @jamesmappin.