BMW Dealer Team UK announces independent BTCC assault

Accident Exchange, the UK’s leading provider of accident management services and replacement vehicles to the automotive industry, is delighted to announce its entry in the 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship Independents’ Cup, as BMW Dealer Team UK. The team’s championship assault will be led by Henley-in-Arden’s Mat Jackson.

Jackson, 26, will contest the series in Andy Priaulx’s 2007 World Touring Car Championship-winning BMW 320si WTCC, having secured the Guernsey man’s title-winning car for the second consecutive season from RBM, which runs the BMW Team UK WTCC works entry.
In 2007, Jackson emerged as a future star of the BTCC when supported by Nick Whale BMW of Warwick, he finished seventh overall, having secured two outright race wins, a total of six podium finishes and a fastest race lap.

Silverstone-based BMW Dealer Team UK will incorporate some key members of the Jackson Msport team, which coordinated Mat’s championship effort from the Midlands in 2007, and will be run by team principal, Chris Tee, former technical support engineer of the Formula BMW UK Championship.

Jackson is thrilled by the boost to his championship credentials provided by the new outfit, commenting, ‘With the support of Accident Exchange, Chris and his team’s technical expertise and a championship-winning car, we are all set to take the next step. We feel this year’s independents’ title is within reach and I’m feeling confident about bettering both last year’s tallies for podiums and race wins. I can’t wait until the lights go out at Brands on March 30. Everything is in place for a good season.”

Endorsed by BMW (UK) Ltd and incorporating BMW Efficient Dynamics branding, BMW Dealer Team UK will provide an opportunity for BMW dealers to enjoy, and
entertain at, Britain’s top domestic motor sport series. BMW Dealer Team UK will field one of five BMW 320si’s lining up on this year’s BTCC grid.

The BMW Dealer Team UK entry is sponsored by Accident Exchange, which exclusively provides accident management and vehicle replacement services to 112 of BMW’s 150-strong UK dealer network.

Steve Evans, Chief Executive of Accident Exchange commented, ‘we have worked closely with BMW and its dealers since the inception of our business in 2001. As soon as we discovered the appetite for a UK motor sport programme within the network, we were excited to get involved and are thrilled by the strength of our entry. We look forward to getting BMW’s dealers behind the team and wish Mat all the best of luck for what is sure to be a highly competitive season of motor sport.’