MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square enjoyed a fantastic qualifying day at a sun-soaked Snetterton Circuit as Ollie Jackson and Jake Hill claimed the team a double top-ten start ahead of Rounds 4, 5 and 6 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season. Both progressing through to the ten-minute pole shootout, Ollie and Jake delivered excellent laps to claim P7 and P8 respectively.
Entering the weekend in confident mood with the Motorbase Performance-run squad enjoying a fantastic opening weekend a Thruxton back in May, the driving duo started Saturday’s running off on the front-foot with Ollie closing the session in P7, with Jake in P9 in the #24 car, despite only running for the early stages of the session.
Running through respective programmes, the day’s final practice session saw Jake climb into P6 while Ollie closed the session in P24. With both driver’s feeling well-placed ahead of qualifying, the challenge was set for the team to finish inside the top ten within qualifying one as this weekend saw the return of the ten-minute pole shootout.
Despite carrying maximum weight into the qualifying session, Jake delivered an excellent performance to claim P6 with a 1:55.956 while Ollie enjoyed a similarly strong performance as a 1:56.151 earned the two-time race winner P8 in the opening qualifying session.
Those results ensured both MB Motorsport drivers progressed into the closing ten-minute pole shootout. With Colin Turkington, Tom Ingram and Gordon Shedden setting the early pace, both Ollie and Jake set their fastest lap times in the final exchanges. With the clock ticking down, a 1:56.262 earned Ollie a P7 starting position while Jake claimed P8 with a 1:56.403, meaning the Mountune-powered MB Motorsport Focus ST’s will line up alongside one for Round 4 on Sunday morning.
Ollie Jackson – Qualified P7 – #48 MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square:
“It’s been another good day for the team and we are well in the mix heading into tomorrow. The pole shootout adds a different dimension to the day so it was great to get both cars into the mix. Lining up in P7 puts us in a strong position for tomorrow – I wanted a little bit more but what racing driver doesn’t?! The car feels in a great place and we know we can go well around here on race day.”
Jake Hill – Qualified P8 – #24 MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square:
“We’re really happy with how today has gone as a team. It was always going to be tough to be right up the very sharp end with the success ballast on today but we have probably got as much out of today as physically possible, all things considered. It’s a really interesting grid and we are in the mix – if we can bring it through safely in round one, I’m confident we can have another great day tomorrow.”
Mark Blundell – Sporting Director, MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square:
“The team and Jake and Ollie should be really glad with today’s performance. To have both cars firmly in the mix heading into tomorrow is all we can ever ask for. We know that the car is in a really good place so we’ve set ourselves up to have a real shot at it tomorrow and I know everyone will be giving it everything they’ve got.”