Sam Tordoff shocked by Snetterton pole gap

Sam Tordoff insisted he was pleased to have secured third on the grid for the opening BTCC race of the weekend at Snetterton, despite being “shocked” at the gap to the front row.

The Cobra Sport AmD driver showed solid progress across Saturday at the Norfolk circuit, bettering his time from first practice in the second 40 minute session, and then lowering his benchmark still further in qualifying.

A best time of 1:55.023s was quicker than Jack Goff posted in setting the previous qualifying lap record twelve months ago, but would ultimately only be good enough for a place on the second row of the grid after Tom Ingram and Dan Cammish locked out the front row.

“I’m really pleased,” Tordoff admitted. “We knew we had the pace in the car, but it’s hard to deliver it when it matters. We came here on the back of a good test and it’s been a progressive day as we’ve got quicker in every session.

“A 1:55 dead is a fantastic lap as far as I’m concerned and when it flashed up on the dash I was delighted – and then slightly shocked to find out I was P3 and three-tenths away from pole! Fair play to Tom and Dan as they were in a different league today, but I’m pleased with third and it sets us up nicely for tomorrow.”

Tordoff will now hope to challenge for his third podium of the season on race day, and he said he was confident that the FK2 Honda Civic would be a strong package.

“I think we’ll have good race pace as we have did simulations on all three tyres at the test and the balance was consistent on the car,” he said. “I’m not expecting anything untoward and we just need to come up with a decision on which way to go with the tyres.

“From third, we have to go with the option that is the lowest risk. There is no point in going against the grain; we have to take the sensible option and not throw away our position by selecting the wrong tyre.”