Sam Tordoff will make a dramatic switch to Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Teams’ champions West Surrey Racing for the 2015 season.
The 25-year-old moves from MG to join the reigning and multiple championship-winning BMW squad, having claimed two victories in his maiden pair of BTCC campaigns with Triple Eight Engineering‘s MG outfit as well as four pole positions and 12 podium finishes.
The Yorkshire ace, formerly a front-runner also in Renault UK Clio Cup and Porsche Carrera Cup GB, is the first of three expected drivers for WSR to be announced regarding their 2015 line-up, the team again planning to run a trio of BMW 125i machines in the high level tin-top series.
“I am delighted to be joining WSR,” said Tordoff. “They’ve just won four different titles in 2014 – including Colin Turkington’s drivers’ championship – so I believe I am joining the best team on the grid.
“I’ve got to know some of the team already and the work ethic at WSR fits perfectly with mine. They’re an extremely professional outfit that plan meticulously to win, so I can’t wait to get started. I’ve had two good seasons in the BTCC but now is the time for me to mount a championship challenge and I feel I’m now at the best place to do exactly that.”
WSR Team Principal, Dick Bennetts, said: “We’ve watched Sam’s development closely over the last few years and he’s progressed extremely well in the BTCC.
“I have enjoyed working with emerging talents throughout my career and we believe Sam has the ability to become a champion in the future. Everyone in the team is delighted with his signing and we welcome him to West Surrey Racing, where we hope together we can enjoy great success.”
Triple Eight announced also that they will be returning with a new line-up that does not include Tordoff or Jason Plato, while WSR remain hopeful that they will find a backer to replace departed sponsor, eBay.
Reigning champion, Colin Turkington, earlier this week announced that he was looking at potential options down the paddock, his place in WSR’s squad still not secured it seems as is the current fate of 2014 runner-up, Plato.