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British Touring Car Championship
Donington Park - Race 3 Report - 15/4/12

By MJP Media | 15 April 2012

Mat Jackson added to his race 1 victory by winning the 3rd race of the day at Donington Park. Jason Plato still leads the championship but Jackson is only 3 points behind.

Mat Jackson celebrates his 2nd victory of the day
Mat Jackson celebrates his 2nd victory of the day

Jeff Smith started the last race of the day from pole position alongside team-mate Andrew Jordan thanks to the reverse grid system which put their Pirtek Racing Honda Civics on the front row of the grid. At the start, Andrew Jordan took the lead but immediately lost it as he was passed by Mat Jackson. By the end of the first lap, Dave Newsham's Team ES Racing.com Vauxhall Vectra was in the lead ahead of the eBay Motors BMW 320si of Rob Collard.

Lap 3 saw Matt Neal and Andrew Jordan spinning off the track. Jordan recovered however Neal got stuck in a gravel trap and his race was ended. On the same lap, Andy Neat's MG KX Momentum MG6 hit the barriers, effectively ending his race as well. The safety car was deployed as Neal's stricken Honda Civic was recovered.

Mat Jackson on his way to winning the third race
Mat Jackson on his way to winning the third race

When racing resumed, Mat Jackson, who had regained the lead before the start of the safety car period, was being followed by Dave Newsham in 2nd and Rob Collard 3rd, however Newsham slipped down the pack as he was passed first by Collard then Gordon Shedden and Jason Plato who was rapidly making his up the field having started the race in 17th place. Before long, Jason Plato had passed Gordon Shedden to take 3rd place as Rob Collard slipped down to 4th.

In the closing laps, Gordon Shedden came under intense pressure from Jason Plato. On the last lap, Plato ran into the back of Shedden, causing his Honda Civic to run wide across the gravel trap and allowing Plato to take 2nd place behind race winner Mat Jackson. Shedden held on to take 3rd but was clearly disappointed by the incident. Tony Gilham finished a well-deserved 4th for Team HARD. with Rob Collard 5th and Jeff Smith 6th.

Gordon Shedden is pushed into the gravel trap on the last lap
Gordon Shedden is pushed into the gravel trap on the last lap

After a thrilling day of racing, Jason Plato leads the championship on 84 points but Mat Jackson is only 3 points behind on 81 with Matt Neal on 80 as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship heads to Thruxton in Hampshire on April 28th and 29th for the 3rd meeting of the 2012 season.

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