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British Touring Car Championship
Brands Hatch (GP) - Qualifying - 10/10/15

By MJP Media | 10 October 2015

Mat Jackson takes pole position in qualifying at Brands Hatch to put him at the front of the grid for the first race tomorrow.

Mat Jackson claims pole position in qualifying at Brands Hatch

With the sun trying to break through the overcast sky, the drivers took to the track for the final qualifying session of the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season. With the qualifying positions determining the grid for the first BTCC race tomorrow and five drivers capable of lifting the 2015 Drivers' Championship trophy, this could be the most significant qualifying session of the year.

The Team BMR RCIB Insurance drivers were the first to take to the track and after pitting to swap tyres, Colin Turkington and Aron Smith where the first to post meaningful lap times. As the session progressed the lap times tumbled with Adam Morgan in the WIX Racing Mercedes Benz A-Class going top of the time sheet ahead of Jack Goff in the MG 888 Racing MG 6GT and BMR team-mates Jason Plato and Aron Smith.

Aron Smith qualified 2nd for Team BMR RCIB Insurance

Jack Goff soon posted a new fastest lap time with championship leader Gordon Shedden 2nd before Mat Jackson topped the time sheet, his Motorbase Performance Ford Focus unhindered by the championship success ballast being carried by the likes of Gordon Shedden and Jason Plato. Jackson then became the first driver to post a sub 1:31 lap time. Power Maxed Racing's Josh Cook then went 2nd fastest in his Chevrolet Cruze whilst Colin Turkington was now the fastest of the Team BMR RCIB Insurance drivers down in 10th.

Andy Priaulx in his Team IHG Rewards Club BMW 125i M Sport then became the man on the move, becoming the 2nd driver to go sub 1:31 whilst posting the 2nd fastest lap time. With half the session completed, Mat Jackson was top of the time sheet with Andy Priaulx 2nd, Josh Cook 3rd and Honda Yuasa Racing team-mates Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden 4th and 5th respectively.

Qualifying 4th, Gordon Shedden was the fastest of the title contenders

With 10 minutes of the session remaining, 16 cars had put in sub 1:31 lap times with Mat Jackson the only driver to go sub 1:30. Jason Plato then improved with a 1:31.033 lap time as Jackson continued to chip away at his fastest lap time. With 5 minutes remaining, Gordon Shedden went 3rd fastest in his Honda Civic Type R ahead of championship rivals Colin Turkington and Jason Plato before Aron Smith went 2nd fastest.

At the end of the session it was Mat Jackson who claimed pole position for the first race tomorrow with a time of 1:30.685, over half a second quicker than the previous qualifying lap record held by Jason Plato. Qualifying 2nd, Aron Smith will join Jackson on the front row of the grid with Adam Morgan and Gordon Shedden on row 2. Colin Turkington and Jason Plato will start on row 3 with Tom Ingram and Matt Neal on row 4. Andy Priaulx and Josh Cook complete the top 10 starters. With the top 12 drivers beating Plato's previous qualifying lap record, the scene is now set for tomorrow's thrilling climax to the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

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