Best result yet for MG’s Sam Tordoff

Triple Eight MG’s Sam Tordoff secured the best qualifying position and race finish of his fledgling touring car career at Oulton Park, and remained upbeat despite the disappointment of his second race.

The 24-year-old Yorkshireman planted his MG6 in second on the grid on Saturday behind Jason Plato, and kept his vastly experienced team-mate honest for the whole of the opening race.

The second encounter proved to be more challenging, as a gamble on running the soft tyre earlier than the other front runners saw Tordoff drop down the field, before a hit from Mat Jackson’s Ford Focus put him out of the running for good.

It meant a start near the back for the final race, which proved no obstacle as Tordoff raced through to seventh place.

Reflecting on the weekend, Tordoff told TouringCarTimes: “The first race was great. We qualified first and second and it was a great one-two for MG.

“We have got good pace and it was nice to take Jason round, and be his rear gunner. I’ve picked up some good points today, regardless of the second race.

“We took the gamble for race two to be on the soft tyre and we struggled a bit towards the end. But we were still in the mix. Sadly Mat Jackson drove into me and broke the car.

“The tyres were the biggest issue. We weren’t particularly quick, but we were holding our own. With seven laps to go, the rear tyres really started having an effect.”

It was another weekend where the impressive rookie showed an excellent turn of speed as he gets to grip with the BTCC.

He said: “We are learning, and the team are learning, because you don’t get very much time on the soft tyre.

“We keep making improvements, and as long as we keep doing that, then we should iron everything out by the end.”