Motorbase Performance have announced that Andrew Jordan and Pirtek Racing will join the team for the 2016 British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season as the team’s first 2016 signing.
Jordan has spent just one season at MG Triple Eight Racing, having left his then family-run Eurotech Racing outfit at the end of 2014.
The former champion endured a difficult season in 2015, ending the year fifth overall in the championship and as the only driver in the top ten at the end of the year not to take a race win.
Motorbase Team Principal David Bartrum is looking forward to having Jordan in the team, who brings long-time sponsor Pirtek to the Kent-based outfit for 2016.
A new blue, yellow and red livery in deference to Jordan’s sponsor will be revealed in the coming weeks.
“It’s great to have Andrew on board;” said Bartrum. “He’s a fantastic driver with a proven BTCC pedigree and has all of the right ingredients to help Motorbase Performance push on and challenge for the BTCC crown.
“He’s everything you look for in your driver line-up and as a former champion he understands what is required to compete and win at the very top level. Equally, we’re very excited to welcome Pirtek to the Motorbase family. They’re a well-known and respected brand and we are very much looking forward to working with them on and off-track.”
Jordan believes that moving to Motorbase, who won four times in the second half of the 2015 BTCC, represents his best chance to once again stand on the top step of the podium and reclaim the BTCC title.
“The car is obviously very quick and looks very well sorted,” said Jordan. “From what I’ve seen, it looks after its tyres very well and carries the extra weight well.
“You need to have a passion to succeed in the BTCC and we want to be with a team that really wants to win. David [Bartrum] and the team at Motorbase have that passion and determination. I want to arrive at race weekends knowing that we’re going to be in a position to challenge for race wins.”
Pirtek Marketing Manager Tammie Argent-Peters reiterated the company’s support for Jordan with the switch to a different team and car for 2016.
“Andrew is a proven winner and has been the perfect partner for Pirtek,” said Argent-Peters. “The Motorbase Ford Focus represents a real opportunity for Andrew to reclaim his BTCC crown, and I know that everyone at Pirtek will be backing him all the way.”
Motorbase will head into a comprehensive winter testing programme in the coming months as the team look to put together a challenge for their first BTCC crown next season.
“2016 is already shaping up really well for Motorbase and Andrew’s signing is another building block in our preparation for a full championship title assault next season,” concluded Bartrum.