News 2010: Dunlop MSA BTCC BMW Airwaves - Thruxton Qualifying

April 3rd

The BMW Airwaves team faced a tough qualifying session in the run up to the first BTCC meet of the season at Hampshire's Thruxton race circuit as the weather refused to make up its mind.

The fast-paced, rippled 2.4 mile race track is always hard on teams running cars of the rear wheel drive persuasion, but slippery conditions that were neither wet nor dry made things even tougher for the BMW Airwaves duo.

Thankfully the vast talents of Mat Jackson and Steven Kane enabled them to make their mark, finishing in seventh (7th) and eleventh (11th) places respectively, and leaving them in a decent position to challenge for podium places come Sunday.

From the off Jackson and Kane showed good pace with a qualifying time of 1.25.28 and 1.25.867 seconds respectively, the fastest of the BMWs on today's grid. Jackson will therefore start the morning's first race just behind Andrew Jordan's Vauxhall Vectra.

Kane, who was just over half a second off Jackson's pace also performed well. The Irishman was caught in a sudden downpour during the qualifying session and only managed one 'hot' lap, enough to put him in front of Rob Collard when the flag drops tomorrow.

Thanks to today's drive the BMW Airwaves lads are already in contention, while a characteristically quick start in tomorrow's first race from should see both drivers gunning for victory. Lets just hope the heavens play ball.

All three races from Thruxton will be shown live on ITV4 between 11.30am-6.00pm on Sunday.

Airwaves BMW Team Principal David Bartrum said:
"These type of weather conditions are difficult for the BMW, especially here at Thruxton. When it's neither wet nor dry setting up the car becomes a real challenge, but we were the fastest of the BMs so that says something. Tomorrow I'm confident we can kick up a gear and challenge for the podium. If it's dry – well; that would be even better."

Airwaves BMW Team driver Steven Kane said:
"The car felt great but with the weather constantly changing the set-up felt a little out of synch with the conditions. I couldn't get the lap times I'd hoped for and after I came into the pits for new tyres could only manage one hot lap. In qualifying you need a bit of luck and today I didn't get it. This car is quick, tomorrow I want to be challenging for the podium."

Airwaves BMW Team driver Mat Jackson said:
"I'm pretty pleased with my position considering I only managed half a session out there. The car has a lot of pace and in the first sector we were very quick indeed. There was standing water on the track and that stopped me getting the most from the car in the later stages. I could feel there was more to come and tomorrow I aim to go out and prove it. Podiums in all three races are a definite goal."

Event Information
Thruxton Circuit length: 2.36 miles
Laps: 16
Race distance: 37.76 miles
Address: Thruxton Circuit, Andover, Hampshire SP11 8PN
Tel: 01264 882200
Web: www.barc.net