Mat Jackson
A tenacious and versatile British Touring Car Championship stalwart, known for thrilling overtakes and relentless racecraft.
Born 1981 (age 45)·British racing driver·Birthday: June 10·Millennials
Biography
For over a decade, Mat Jackson was one of the most recognizable and exciting drivers in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). His career wasn't defined by a single championship title, but by a reputation as a fierce and fearless competitor who could win races in anything he drove. Jackson possessed a classic, aggressive touring car style, a master of the bumper-to-bumper combat and daring late-braking moves that define the series. He scored victories for multiple privateer teams, often outperforming the factory-backed squads with sheer grit and race-day intelligence. His longevity and consistency made him a fan favorite, a driver who brought drama to every weekend and challenged for wins well into his thirties, proving that success in the BTCC isn't solely the domain of the biggest budgets.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Mat was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mat Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Mat's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Secured multiple race wins in the British Touring Car Championship across a career spanning more than a decade.
- Finished as championship runner-up in the 2016 BTCC season, his highest points finish.
- Achieved podium finishes driving for independent teams like Motorbase Performance, challenging factory-backed operations.
Did You Know?
He comes from a racing family; his father, Chris Jackson, was also a professional racing driver.
Before his full-time BTCC career, he competed in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain.
He was known for his distinctive yellow and black livery on his Ford Focus during many of his BTCC campaigns.
“You have to be aggressive to make a pass stick in touring cars.”
