Jackson excels at Le Mans

Motorsport

Tom Jackson was a double winner on his Le Mans debut.

The Chart Sutton driver and team-mate Ahmad Al Harthy won both races in their TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage V12 last weekend.

Jackson was disappointed with 10th on the grid for the Race to Le Mans opener but a superb first lap took him up to sixth and he ran as high as fourth before pitting in fifth and handing over to Al Harthy.

Poised to take the lead on the last lap, news came through that the leading Ferrari had earlier broken pit rules, leaving eight seconds before the mandatory two-minute stop was up, so victory was awarded to TF Sport.

Jackson said: “I wasn’t happy with myself after qualifying but the race was awesome.

“I’ve had so few laps in a GT3 car and to win here at Le Mans is something special.”

Al Harthy built a 10-second lead in the second race before Jackson held off pressure to bring the car home for the team’s second victory.

Jackson, said: “To say it’s a good result is an understatement.

“Honestly, I expected to come here and it was already enough to drive the circuit in an Aston.

“Then we won the first race from a lowly grid position and it all became real.

“The team are fantastic and they gave me a perfect car and the right level of information to allow me to do my job.” Kent were 130-92 winners away to Berkshire in the Middleton Cup. Kent took control early on in Reading and never looked back – although at the completion of 10 ends there was only an eight-shot difference. Kent take on Sussex at Marden on Saturday looking to reach the quarter-finals. Sussex have 39 points from three games and Kent have 34 from two. Berkshire 92 Kent 130: Kieran Moss, Nick Jenkins, Andrew Rodger, Pat Briscoe won 21-10; Tom Bishop, Bruce Woodington, Taylor Monk, Shaun McCaughan won 18-15; David Mason, Clive Burnham, Paul Barnicott, Duncan Hanmore lost 14-19; David King, Chris Smith, Roger Kendrick, Gary Brock lost 15-18; Mick Fisher, Jeff Vane, Michael Arnold, Gordon Charlton won 33-15; Bradley Drake, Robin Bellion, Grant Allen, Ken Weyand won 29-15.

Kent under25s are playing Buckinghamshire under-25s at Townsend Hook Bowls Club, in Snodland, on Sunday, July 2 (10.30am). Spectators welcome.