Pirtek Racing’s Andrew Jordan produced a battling performance at Croft to extend his lead in the Independents’ Championship as the battle for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship reached the half-way stage.
Andrew went into the weekend hoping to bounce back from a challenging weekend at Oulton Park earlier in the month, with his main target being to secure three strong points finishes at a circuit that has traditionally favoured rear-wheel drive.
Despite that, Andrew was on the pace from the outset in his Motorbase Performance-run Ford Focus, running towards the head of the times in free practice and then qualifying in a solid eighth on the grid for race one, despite admitting he hadn’t quite managed to get the best from the car on his new tyre run.
Avoiding drama at the start, Andrew moved up to fifth when the lights went out on race one but then suffered a scare mid-way through the race when a smell of gearbox oil appeared in the car. Debris on track had smashed a sensor on the gearbox which was losing oil onto one of his tyres, with the Focus only just making it to the finish to give Andrew a second Independents’ class win of the year.
With limited time to replace the gearbox for race two, it was all hands to the pump in the garage, with the Ford ready to leave in time for the start with just seconds to spare. Ninth place added more points to Andrew’s tally and even when he then missed out on the reverse grid draw of race three, a battling drive in wet conditions allowed the distinctively liveried Focus to come home in fifth.
The end result for Andrew is an extended 27 point lead in the Independents’ championship whilst he has also now moved up to fourth place overall heading into the summer break.
“We always knew that rear-wheel drive cars like the Subaru and the BMW were going to be strong at Croft and it was one of the weekends where it was important that we scored as many points as we could,” he said. “Looking at how things panned out, that’s exactly what we’ve done and to have extended the Independents’ lead and moved up to fourth overall is a good result.
“The car this weekend has been really good, and certainly in qualifying, it felt the best it has been this year. Although our race pace wasn’t quite as strong, we raced well in every race and have been rewarded with some decent points.
“It wouldn’t have been possible without the work of my team who did an absolutely fantastic job to take the engine out, build up and replace the gearbox, and then get the engine back in in time for race two. It was so tight that I didn’t think they’d be able to do it in time which would have ruined the weekend and, to a man, they deserve huge credit for getting the job done under such pressure.
“I’ve maintained from the start of the season that it’s important to score consistently if we want to challenge for the title when we get to Brands Hatch in October. The points we’ve picked up this weekend could turn out to be crucial when it really matters.”
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