Andrew Jordan left Thruxton last weekend [7th-8th May] in high spirits as the 2013 champion claimed his first victory in the British Touring Car Championship in just under two years.
Jordan, who took the win in the second of Sunday’s triple-header of races ahead of Rob Collard and Adam Morgan, looked a formidable force all weekend, setting the pace in first practice before finishing runner-up in the afternoon session. A disappointing qualifying saw the Pirtek Racing driver line up just 8th for the first race, but the frustration was quickly dispensed with as he claimed third in a chaos-strewn contest.
Although a puncture curtailed his efforts in the final race, the results place Jordan 8th overall in the Drivers Championship, just 21 points adrift of joint standings leaders Matt Neal and Collard. He also now sits second in the Independents Championship he won in both 2012 and 2013.
Jordan admitted he was delighted to have claimed the victory, not least because it stops everyone referencing the last time he took the chequered flag first.
“I think the weekend has gone really well,” he commented.
“There is a bit of disappointment initially with the way race three ended, but to come away from the weekend with a win and a podium is great – especially as every man and his dog kept reminding me I hadn’t won since Croft 2014!
He was also pleased to have been able to bounce back from a frustrating qualifying to take home two pieces of silverware, and believes that without the puncture in race three an opportunity was there to secure an even better haul of points.
“To come back from a tough qualifying session to start the day with a podium was a great and in race two, I knew I just had to wait for the right moment before making a move on Morgan and the plan worked a treat.” he explained.
“Had it not been for the puncture in race three, we’d have been right in the mix there too, so we have shown the pace we have in the car and have a good platform to build on.”
Having now opened his account of race victories for David Bartrum’s Motorbase Performance outfit, to which he made the switch this season after a disappointing year with MG Triple Eight Racing, Jordan believes that his season really starts here as he heads next to Oulton Park for another triple-header in three weeks time [4th-5th June].
“I’m pleased that I’ve now opened my account with Motorbase and I feel in a really good place with the team; they’ve welcomed me with open arms. This was where my season really begins after a tough start, and it’s onwards and upwards from here.”