Jackson takes first pole of 2009

The RML Chevrolet driver lapped the circuit in 1m00.259s in the opening minutes of the session, setting a new qualifying record in the process and out-pacing the rest of the field by over two tenths of a second.

Motorbase BMW driver Rob Collard improved by over a second from his morning pace to put himself a superb second on the grid. In doing so, he gained the team's best ever BTCC qualifying position.

James Nash was another to perform brilliantly, the BTCC rookie taking a career-best third on the grid - ahead of the similar car of Jason Plato.

Championship leader Colin Turkington managed fifth, the WSR BMW driver crucially out-qualifying the Vauxhall of his title rival Fabrizio Giovanardi by three places. Between them were the BMWs of Stephen Jelley (WSR) and Jonathan Adam (Motorbase).

Tom Chilton continued to show the progress the Arena Ford Focus has made since the mid-season break by qualifying a season's best ninth, while WSR's Anthony Reid, making his return to the BTCC after a five-year break, completed the top 10.

The Vauxhall's of Matt Neal and Andrew Jordan were only 11th and 16th, while Johnny Herbert was a disappointing 17th quickest.

The three-time grand prix winner's session ended early as he pulled off at Becketts halfway through the session with a steering problem. The red flags were brought out for 10 minutes while his car was recovered.

Pos  Driver              Car           Time              
 1.  Mat Jackson         Chevrolet     1m00.259s
 2.  Rob Collard         BMW           1m00.492s  + 0.233
 3.  James Nash          Chevrolet     1m00.520s  + 0.261
 4.  Jason Plato         Chevrolet     1m00.558s  + 0.299
 5.  Colin Turkington    BMW           1m00.697s  + 0.438
 6.  Stephen Jelley      BMW           1m00.732s  + 0.473
 7.  Jonathan Adam       BMW           1m00.768s  + 0.509
 8.  F.Giovanardi        Vauxhall      1m00.869s  + 0.610
 9.  Tom Chilton         Ford          1m00.969s  + 0.710
10.  Anthony Reid        BMW           1m01.020s  + 0.761
11.  Matt Neal           Vauxhall      1m01.060s  + 0.801
12.  Harry Vaulkhard     Chevrolet     1m01.092s  + 0.833
13.  Tom Onslow-         Ford          1m01.167s  + 0.908
14.  Paul O'Neill        Honda         1m01.274s  + 1.015
15.  David Pinkney       Honda         1m01.352s  + 1.093
16.  Andrew Jordan       Vauxhall      1m01.431s  + 1.172
17.  Johnny Herbert      Honda         1m01.458s  + 1.199
18.  Martyn Bell         Honda         1m02.185s  + 1.926
19.  Martin Johnson      Vauxhall      1m02.221s  + 1.962
20.  John George         Honda         1m02.272s  + 2.013