Despite losing the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship lead after a propshaft issue at Snetterton, Sam Tordoff was encouraged by his pace heading to the BMW-friendly Knockhill circuit.
The West Surrey Racing man entered 12 points ahead of team-mate Rob Collard, but left the Norfolk circuit three behind the latter after a non-finish in race three scuppered his weekend following solid results of seventh and eighth prior to that.
Although surrendering the BTCC points lead, the Oulton Park winner took positives from his strong pace with success ballast on board at Snetterton.
“[Sunday went] pretty well, all things considered”, Tordoff said of his performance after the visit to Norfolk.
“With maximum ballast on board and on the soft tyre, I’d call seventh a good result. It was a bit more difficult to make the progress I’d hoped for in race two, but eighth gave me pole on the reversed grid, so I was looking good for a podium at the very least in race three.”
Making a strong getaway from the initial start of the final race of the day, the Leeds racer’s lead was undone by a stoppage following a huge crash for Hunter Abbott‘s Chevrolet. Unfortunately for the BMW driver, a propshaft issue forced him to pit and retire at the end of the formation lap on the second attempt, ending Tordoff’s 100 per cent finishing record in 2016.
“Unfortunately, I had an issue on the formation lap so it wasn’t possible to take the start. But prior to today, I’d completed every racing lap this season so was probably due a bit of bad luck.”
Tordoff expects a surge from WSR in the coming visit to Knockhill on 13/14 August, a circuit that BMW have clinched six wins at in the last 12 races in Fife.
“Next it’s Knockhill, which is usually very good for the BMW”, he said. “I’m only three points off the championship lead so everything’s still to play for.”