Sam Tordoff aiming for strong end to debut BMW season

Sam Tordoff is confident the BMW 125i can be a championship winner once again in 2016 with some winter development, after being mathematically ruled out of the 2015 title at Silverstone.

Tordoff has been the most successful West Surrey Racing driver of the 2015 season, currently sitting in sixth place after the ninth meeting of the year, 69 points behind leader Gordon Shedden with 67 still to play for at the Brands Hatch season finale.

However, Tordoff sits just five points behind fifth placed Andrew Jordan of Triple Eight Racing, and has set his sights firmly on jumping the MG driver and earning a top five finish in the Drivers’ Championship.

“I’m really looking forward to going [to Brands Hatch],” Tordoff told TouringCarTimes. “I’m going to enjoy it, I think the car will be good there, it’s my favourite circuit as well. If we can gain another place in the championship that’s probably the best it can be, if not we’ll consolidate sixth and it’ll be a good end to a first season with BMW.”

Had Tordoff finished ahead of team-mate Rob Collard in the final race of the day at Silverstone, the two-time race winner in 2015 would have gone in to the finale with a mathematical shot at the title.

At one stage it appeared that Collard had let Tordoff through for that reason, but when he was unable to catch race leader Colin Turkington, Tordoff handed the position back to Collard to take the third step on the podium behind his BMW team-mate.

“I felt like I was quicker than him,” explained Tordoff. “After much persuasion he agreed to let me past and see what I could do but unfortunately it was a little too late, if he’d let me past a few laps earlier then maybe I’d have had a better chance. [Letting him back through] was me returning the favour, the deal was if I couldn’t catch Colin I’d give the place back. I’m comfortable with that and I’m grateful he gave me the chance in the first place.”

Although nothing has yet been signed, Tordoff is hoping to remain with the West Surrey Racing outfit in 2016, after an impressive and consistent season sees him sit ahead of his team-mates, including three-time World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx and long-time WSR driver Rob Collard.

“I’m happy here,” said Tordoff. “Nothing’s signed or agreed but I’m happy with WSR as a team and with the BMW. If we can work on the few weaknesses we have then it’ll be a real good car next year and I’m looking to build on the first year learning experience with the BMW.”