BTCC: Team Eurotech Knockhill summary

SCOTTISH HIGHS AND LOWS FOR TEAM EUROTECH

Mike Jordan had a dramatic weekend in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship for Team Eurotech at the Knockhill track in Scotland over the weekend (2/3 September).

Despite a clear display of front-running pace, a series of dramas left the John Guest and Pirtek supported Honda Integra with only a fifth place finish from the three BTCC races.

In the opening race, Mike was forced to join the parade laps from the pit lane after a last-minute alternator problem. However, having formed up 18th and last on the final grid, he had a great run through the field to finish in sixth place after a typically determined drive. He passed three cars even before he crossed the start line.

He then battled ahead of several more cars and steered around the collision that put David Pinkney and Gavin Smith out of the race. Then, in the closing laps he caught title contender Colin Turkington and was able to dive ahead at the Hairpin to claim a fine sixth place. Mike was later elevated to fifth in the results when SEAT driver Darren Turner was excluded for a safety car infringement

That put Jordan fifth on the grid for the second race, which was full of incident and drama. Mike even ran as high as second as fortunes changed lap by lap, but he picked up a front puncture when Gordon Shedden forced his way through at the Hairpin.

After a pit-stop for a tyre change, Mike rejoined right behind the leading pack and was easily able to run with them, even though he was careful not to get involved in the battling for position. Unfortunately, on the last lap of the race an accident between title contenders Matt Neal and Jason Plato put Jordan out. "I let the Vauxhalls go through, but I was so much quicker than all of them! Then I could see where Matt Neal was coming from and all of a sudden I got a big shunt in the back," he explained. "We'd got some great pace then."

Sadly, he was not able to capitalise on that pace as the damage to the front of the car was just too great to be repaired in time for race three.

-credit: te