Volvo FH-480 is a racing certainty for Mat Jackson

At the end of a successful season, rising British Touring Car Championship contender Mat Jackson has more automotive hardware to thank than his two-litre BMW 3-series racing machine. Moving the racer from circuit to circuit was the Volvo FH-480 6x2 tractor unit loaned to him by Volvo Trucks at Warwick.

“It was a massive advantage having the best truck in the pit lane,” enthuses Mat, “a fantastic boost for the whole team.” The Warwickshire-based racer has certainly enjoyed a strong 2008 season; in only his second year of competition under present rules, he has taken second place in the Championship. And his hopes for next year are even higher; “Next year, we need to win! It’s early days and I’m always trying to learn new tricks,” says Mat.

Mat has taken the wheel of the FH himself – though not, of course, on public roads. “It’s just awesome,” he says, “an amazing bit of kit. You’re in a different world up there in the FH cab!”

In 2009, Mat aims to take to the track once more, this time swapping his lucky Number seven for the Number two decal. He’s hoping, though, that his relationship with Volvo Trucks will continue unchanged so that he can keep relying on what he calls “the best transport in the paddock!”

The FH was driven between circuits by Andy Collett. In addition to his driving duties, Andy, who is part of Volvo’s Driver Development team, also helped the Jackson Motorsport guys behind the scenes, including setting up the pit workshop area.