Sam Tordoff underlined his confidence heading into this weekends British Touring Car Championship triple header at Snetterton, as the Yorkshireman begins the second half of the season atop the Drivers Championship.
Leeds-based racer Tordoff has made the best start of the 32-strong field so far this campaign, with a total of six podium finishes across the opening fifteen contests, including a race victory at Oulton Park. In fact, the season’s first round at Brands Hatch in April is the last time Tordoff failed to score points, and he has a one hundred percent reliability record this term.
Boosted by a strong two-day test at the Norfolk circuit during the mid-season break, Tordoff heads to Snetterton a total of 12 points clear of stablemate Rob Collard, whilst Team JCT600 with GardX sit atop the HiQ Teams Championship. The lead in the Manufacturers standings is also just reward for West Surrey Racing as all three of their BMW 125i M-Sport machines sit in the top five of the championship table.
Looking ahead to the weekend, Tordoff admitted he was keen to resume racing and is aiming to strike whilst the iron is hot, in the sense that the BMW is expected to be a potent weapon around the 2.99 mile circuit.
He did, however, admit that consistency in the car is something both he and the team focused on during their six week summer holiday.
“I can’t wait to resume the battle for the title.” commented Tordoff.
“Since the last round at Croft we’ve had two days of testing at Snetterton and I’ve also driven the BMW at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, plus we’ve spent some time at WSR going through data to try and make the car even more consistent over the second half of the season.”
He also shared his personal fondness for the venue, reflecting on his maiden pole position and race victory in the UK’s premier tin-top series with MG KX Momentum Racing back in his debut season alongside Jason Plato, some three seasons ago in 2013.
“Snetterton is a special circuit for me as it’s where I took my first pole and win in the BTCC,”
“It’s my aim to maximise all the strengths of the BMW and score as many points as possible this weekend. It will be tough as long as I’m carrying 75kg, but ballast changes throughout raceday, so I’m feeling pretty confident.”
This reporter predicted Tordoff as a man to watch in the race for this years title before the season began, and if Tordoff continues his current run of form after the mid-season break he is in his strongest position yet to challenge for a maiden championship crown.