Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Independent title winners Andrew Jordan and Motorbase Performance have announced they have parted company on amicable terms.
2013 BTCC champion Jordan will leave the Kent-based outfit after just one season, during which he clinched the 2016 Independents’ Championship while Motorbase also picked up the Independent Teams’ title.
Jordan said he felt ‘proud’ of his time with the Ford squad after finishing eighth in the overall Drivers’ Championship, but that sponsorship reasons were responsible for their parting.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Motorbase; they are a fantastic team and I take a huge sense of pride in the fact that I played a part in helping them to secure their first BTCC titles this year,” said the 27-year-old.
“We’ve obviously been in talks with them for some time about 2017, but we have reached the point where it has become apparent that a deal isn’t going to be possible. Any deal I do has to be one that works commercially for my sponsors and there were certain things me and my sponsors needed from it, and certain things that the team needed.
“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to tick all the boxes to make that deal possible, but we split on amicable terms and I wish David [Bartrum] and the team all the best for the future.”
Jordan hinted of exciting prospects with Pirtek Racing in the near future, stating: “On a personal level, while it is a shame that we couldn’t agree a deal with Motorbase, there are some very exciting irons in the fire for 2017.”
“Talks are ongoing about a programme that would be fantastic for both myself, as well as for Pirtek and my other sponsors. I’m certainly very confident that we will be able to build on the success that we have enjoyed this year when the new season comes around.”
Motorbase team boss Bartrum added: “There are a good deal of things that need to come together to make a deal in the BTCC work.
“For a number of reasons, unfortunately a few pieces of the jigsaw currently don’t fit so both we and Andrew need to look at making that work elsewhere.”
Motorbase will continue in BTCC next season, but are yet to confirm any drivers for 2017.