BMW Pirtek Racing’s Andrew Jordan believes his win at the British Touring Car Championship season-opener has “boosted expectations” for the 2019 season, after showing promising early pace in the new BMW.
The 2013 champion, who topped the first practice session at a damp Donington Park this morning [27 April], admitted he feels comfortable in the new-for-2019 BMW 330i M Sport, but believes other competitors will get stronger throughout the weekend.
“It’s only free practice, but I do feel comfortable in it,” Jordan told TouringCars.Net. “There’s lots of quick people in the championship at the moment.
“Winning at round one probably boosts our expectations, but we need to stay reliable, keep out of trouble and think of the long run game on this.
“But we can’t deny it’s a good start.”
Jordan was particularly pleased to top the times given the new BMW has had no experience of Donington prior to this weekend, or in wet conditions.
“It’s always a bit of a guess on the setup when it’s wet, and we’ve not driven this car here at all let alone in the wet,” Jordan said.
“It rolled out very good, and we’re now making a big change for free practice two, to try to get a definitive answer as to whether that’s the way to go or not.
“If we can qualify in the ballpark, and then just try to keep racking up points at this stage. I think we should be pretty strong.”
Jordan announced earlier this week that his backing from the distinctive Pirtek brand would finish at the end of this season after a 15-year partnership, but insists this won’t change his approach for the remainder of the 2019 campaign.
“It doesn’t really change my approach at all whether I’m signed for ten years or stopping at the end of the year, it doesn’t change the approach at all if I’m honest,” he said.
“It’d be a good way to sign it off by winning the championship! But it’s a long way to go yet.”
The second practice session at Donington Park gets underway at 12:35 BST.