Andrew Jordan on Matt Neal’s tail for the title after Knockhill
Eurotech Racing’s Andrew Jordan is just six points shy of leader Matt Neal in the British Touring Car Championship standings after a strong weekend at Knockhill, culminating in a victory in race three from the reverse grid.
The reigning independents’ champion has been right with the works Honda drivers all year in a remarkably consistent season thus far, and is the only driver to have finished in the points in every race.
Jordan finished eighth in race one and sixth in race two, which saw him scoop the reverse grid pole with the top six drawn, and ran away to his fourth win of the season from pole, running on Dunlop’s soft tyre.
“We put all our eggs in the basket for race three and put the soft tyres in that one, as we thought in the first two races it’d be difficult to make much progress,” he said to TouringCarTimes.
“The only concern on the grid was if Rob (Collard) was going to jump us off the line, so I knew I had to get a good start. I thought if he could jump Matt (Neal) than that would work to our favour, as I knew Rob was on the normal tyre, so he’d then hold Matt up a bit and he couldn’t utilise the soft tyre.
“I was a little disappointed to see the safety car. I saw (Warren Scott’s car) was there for about four or five laps and then the safety car came out – so I guess the race was probably getting a bit boring. But I got a great restart and just got my head down.
Jordan struggled to make up ground in the first two races in the Honda Civic. After qualifying third, the 24-year-old had to start ninth on the road due to a penalty earned at the previous round at Snetterton, and only moved one net position in the race.
“Track position counts for a lot around here, as it’s such as busy lap there are not that many overtaking places, and everyone’s so evenly matched on pace. So races one and two were a bit frustrating.
After West Surrey Racing driver Colin Turkington’s exclusion from the final race, Jordan is now 19 points ahead of the 2012 champion Gordon Shedden, and just six behind three-time champion Matt Neal, all competing in identical Next Generation Touring Car specification Honda Civics.
“There’s still nine races left so a lot can happen in that time, so we’ll keep doing what we’re doing, keep scoring and keep being there. Matt’s won championships like that before, so that’s what we’re trying to do.
“I’m not focussing on the independents’ title at all without sounding ungrateful. It’s all eyes on the main prize and hopefully (the independents’ championship) will take care of itself.”
BTCC Independent Drivers’ Standings
