Andrew Jordan: “The bulls**t stops at round one”

New Motorbase Performance driver Andrew Jordan has declared himself happy with his new machine for his assault on the 2016 BTCC, but says he’s only too aware that “the bullshit stops” when the season starts at Brands Hatch in April.

Jordan and his new outfit were present for both days of last week’s pre-season test at Thruxton, and the 2013 champion said he already felt at home with his new Ford Focus ST.

The 26-year-old has now driven the Ford in both the 2015 specification with the outgoing GPRM parts, and the 2016 machine with the new RML kit, and said the differences between the car weren’t huge.

Assessing his winter to date, Jordan told TouringCarTimes: “The bullshit stops at round one, so we’re just cracking on and it’s going well so far.

“It’s just about learning now and doing sweeps on different setup items to pick up some knowledge about what does what, but we’ve got some good engineers working behind the scenes.

“It’s not hugely dissimilar [to the GPRM car]. On the same day I drove Mat [Jackson’s] car in the old spec compared to this [my car] and there are pros and cons to both.”

Heading into his ninth season in touring cars, Jordan has plenty of experience of a modern day BTCC machine – and said his new car reminded him of the one in which he enjoyed the most success.

“It feels much more like the Civic. It’s a shorter wheelbase and it’s a well sorted car. It has a good change of direction,” said Jordan.

“I’m really comfortable with it and really comfortable with the team. We’re off to Portugal for three days and then five days in the UK, so we’ve got plenty of testing ahead.”

Jordan racked up the laps at Thruxton despite an off in the afternoon (pictured), which damaged the sump and put him out of action for the remainder of the day.