BTCC 2019: Jordan continues BMW's strong form

Andrew Jordan continued the strong start to the season for the new BMW 3 Series with a double victory in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton, staging a remarkable comeback after being hospitalised in a heavy accident in the previous round.

The WSR BMW Pirtek Racing driver was involved in a heavy crash in the opening race at Donington Park that ruled him out for the remainder of the day, but was right back on form in Hampshire. But despite a pair of wins, it wasn’t a perfect weekend for Jordan, as a clash dropped him well down the order in the final race of the day.

BTC Racing Honda Civic Type R driver Josh Cook took a commanding win in that event to strengthen his championship bid.

The ultra-fast Thruxton circuit has not traditionally suited rear-wheel-drive cars such as the BMW, but Jordan qualified third in his 330i M Sport, and vaulted into second at the start of the opening race. He then battled past pole-sitter Sam Tordoff’s Civic Type-R midway through the race, taking a clear victory. 

Dan Cammish finished third in his works Civic Type R, ahead of WSR Team BMW driver Colin Turkington.

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Turkington, who had taken a double victory at Donington, made a great start of his own in race two to jump into second. He pressured Jordan for much of the race, but eventually settled for second.Cammish moved past Tordoff into third and briefly closed in on the two BMWs, but fell back near the end as light rain began to fall. Jason Plato took fourth in his Vauxhall Astra, ahead of Matt Neal (Civic Type R) and Tordoff.

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Ash Sutton finished 11th in his Subaru Levorg, and was then drawn on pole for the reverse-grid final race. But in damp conditions Cook made a strong start, and squeezed past the Subaru at the first chicane to take the lead. He then survived two safety car periods to take his second race win of the year.

Rory Butcher fought his way past Sutton with a bold move at the daunting Church corner to take second in his Civic Type R, a result that put him into a tie for the championship lead with Turkington, who claimed ninth.

Jordan’s day didn’t end so well, as he was pitched into a spin mid-race, finishing 17th.

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— BTCC (@BTCC) May 19, 2019