Reigning champion Andrew Jordan repeated his efforts of 12 months ago by claiming pole position for the British Touring Car Championship season opener at Brands Hatch, sealing the deal with a late effort that he described simply as ‘spot on’.
The first 30-minute qualifying session of the season came down to a late shoot-out between five champions in the remaining five minutes, Red Bull Athlete Jordan snatching the pole position away from Jason Plato to better his pole position effort of 2013 at the very same Indy circuit and take the top spot by 0.012s.
“I took my brain out and went for it!” the Pirtek Racing man told The Checkered Flag after his sterling Saturday afternoon effort.
“We spent a lot of time looking at the data in between the two practice sessions, so I knew what I had to do and what I had to gain; it was down to me in the end.”
The earlier action had seen Plato top both practice sessions during the morning at a glorious and sunny Brands Hatch circuit, and the MG driver looked set to continue his form in qualifying having lead much of the way.
Two late efforts from Jordan in the final four minutes however snatched the advantage back to the Honda Civic driver, who sealed the deal with a time of 48.228s.
He added: “We thought [Plato] was going to be really strong, really strong. We thought he was going to get it, but from my point of view I thought I can still do it. I was always going to go in thinking I could get it.
“It all came down to the last run; I didn’t get caught in any traffic so I could just hook it together, and it was spot on.
“The traffic wasn’t as bad as I thought it would have been to be honest, but there was always traffic when you’ve got 30 cars together and the lap is so short.”
With the weather expected to stay bright tomorrow for the opening race day of the season, the reigning champion anticipates a great show for the fans flocking in their many numbers to the Kent circuit.
“Hopefully tomorrow will be the same. I’m not actually that fussed if it’s wet or dry, but I think it’s going to be warm tomorrow so that will be great, and a great day out for the fans.”
