West Thurrock Touring Car team's dilemma (From Thurrock Gazette)

Mechanical problems dog AmD

11:12am Wednesday 10th October 2012 in Sport

MOTORSPORT: MECHANICAL problems dogged West Thurrock-based AmDTuning.com team at the penultimate Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship event at Silverstone.

The borough team had enjoyed a strong weekend at Rockingham, the week before but were aware that the short National circuit wouldn’t play to the strengths of its turbo-powered Volkswagen Golf.

A difficult Saturday saw Attleborough-based driver Ollie Jackson qualify in 24th place for the opening race - although he was promoted to 23rd when a rival team was forced to change drivers for race day.

In race one the Thurrock driver reached 14th place but a driveshaft problem forced the car into the pits at the end of the green flag lap prior to race two.

He was five laps down when he was then able to join his fellow competitors on track. The quick driveshaft change was not A puncture later led to another unscheduled stop and meant Ollie Jackson was unclassified at the finish.

Despite the damage sustained, he raced to a 17th place finish – posting his quickest lap of the weekend.

He said: “Unfortunately the driveshaft went on the green flag lap for race two which ended any chance of a good result and then in race three, the car was great and I made a strong start only to be hit by Andy Neate which meant I lost the places I had gained.

“I’m hoping for a good end to the year at Brands Hatch.”

Team boss Shaun Hollamby said the weekend hadn’t gone as well as the team had hoped, but said there were still positives to take away from the meeting as the team heads for the season finale on home soil at Brands Hatch