Mat Jackson says he is ‘convinced’ that Power Maxed Racing is the right team to have joined for his return to the British Touring Car Championship in 2020 after hitting the track at Donington Park.

Jackson will partner Jason Plato during the season ahead as he returns to the series for the first time since 2017, having suddenly split with Motorbase om the eve of the 2018 campaign.

The test at Donington provided Jackson with the first chance to sample Power Maxed’s race-winning Vauxhall Astra, and the 38-year-old insisted that his early impressions of the car were positive.

“It’s been two years since I last drove an NGTC-spec car in anger, and it was great to get back behind the wheel,” he said. “It was only my first test in the car, so it was mostly used for me to become accustomed with the car and the team. With rain in the morning, which dried up around lunch, it gave me the perfect opportunity to put the car through its paces, and I’ve got to say it felt great.

“I have unfinished business in the championship, so I wanted to come back with the right team, and after driving the Astra yesterday I’m completely convinced I’ve made the right choice in joining PMR. Martin and his team have put together a cracking machine, and I’m chomping at the bit to get back out at the end of the month!”

Team manager Martin Broadhurst was equally positive about Jackson’s first run in the car and said he felt confident that the former series runner-up would be on the pace from the outset.

“Mat’s a highly experienced driver, and has proved multiple times that he has the ability to win races, and very nearly the championship itself,” he said. “Despite having not been in an NGTC-spec car for two years, he was able to demonstrate his professionalism straight from the off.

“He has two more test days left in the car before our first round at Donington, and we’ll all be working hard throughout to ensure he’s on his A-game come the first qualifying session of the year.”