Reigning SEAT Cupra Champion Mat Jackson will graduate to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship in 2007 with the very same BMW 320si E90 that Andy Priaulx used to win last year's World Touring Car Championship title.

Mat's Jacksons Motorsport team has acquired Priaulx's prized BMW. They are scheduled to give the car its first test at Oulton Park next Wednesday 14 February (Valentine's Day)! The 25-year-old, from Henley-in-Arden, hopes to make a considerable impact on Britain's biggest motor racing championship when he lines up on the grid for the opening rounds at Brands Hatch on 1 April against the likes of household names Matt Neal and Jason Plato.

Mat, who will once again be backed by Whale Tankers, says: "The BTCC is the pinnacle of British motor sport. I've won in everything I've ever raced, but this will require me to step up another gear in terms of speed, racecraft and technical input into the car.

The BTCC is on a different level, with huge public appeal and media exposure, and it's no accident it's one of the most watched motor racing championships anywhere in the world. "The team and I are now where we've always aimed to be and we are not going to squander this opportunity. We've got a fantastic car at our disposal in the BMW.

We're doing it properly and have set ourselves some very high targets. I guess the only unknown is how the car will perform on the Dunlop tyres used in the BTCC, but the only way to find out is to get out there and test before the season begins and we'll begin our programme in the next few weeks." Mat's move up to the BTCC comes after two seasons of dominating SEAT's hotly-contested Cupra Championship.

In 2005 he achieved an unrivalled eight wins to finish runner-up and last year added another 11 victories on his way to the title and the champion's cheque of £100,000. He adds: "I had really hoped for a drive with SEAT in the BTCC after proving myself in their championships for two seasons but with only two cars in their team there was no opportunity.

"I wish SEAT well for the forthcoming BTCC season and they must start as favourites with one year already behind them with the Leon. We will only really find out where we are in terms of speed at Brands Hatch on 1 April, but with the new Super 2000 technical regulations and one of the very best cars built to them I am confident we can hit the ground running."