MAT Jackson stormed to within a hair's breadth of a shock victory in the first of today's three Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championships races at Croft.

Click here to view pictures from the BTCC at Croft Circuit

The Airwaves Racing driver took Chevrolet's Jason Plato and second-placed Rob Collard (WSR) on the final lap and just failed to oust Matt Neal (Honda Racing Team) by 0.055 seconds as the flag dropped on a thrilling race.

Plato had started on pole, but a first corner incident with Collard saw him passed by the BMW driver and Neal by the chicane.

Neal settled into his stride, with Collard on his heels and Plato having to make do with third.

Eight laps in and the safety car came out following an incident further down the field and though the field bunched up it was as you were when the Porsche Panamera pulled in and the green flag waved.

Neal's team-mate Gordon Shedden was in fourth, but did not make any impression on the lead three.

It looked as if the places were set, but on the very last lap Jackson stormed his way towards the frontrunners.

Plato waved him through, knowing he could not counter his pace and in the hope Jackson could get past Neal before the line. And it looked like that might be the outcome as Jackson then took Collard. Coming out of the final corner, Jackson hammered the Ford Focus down the final straight and closed in on Neal, but the Honda driver had just enough of a gap to seal the win that extends his championship lead.