Jordan Takes First Win For All-new 3 Series

Andrew Jordan claimed victory in race two of the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship after a breathless 24 laps of action at Brands Hatch.

The win also marked the first success for the all-new BMW 330i M Sport as BMW Pirtek Racing's Jordan surged his way through from 15th on the grid.

"I'm a bit emotional to be honest," said Jordan. "They [the team] deserve that. I believe in this car, I have a good feeling about myself and the team. Well done to BMW with the new 3 Series – it's fantastic."

Changeable conditions again greeted the grid ahead of the race, but unlike the first contest, all 30 drivers chose to start the race on the Dunlop SportMaxx dry tyre.

A steady start to proceedings saw pole-sitter Josh Cook sail off into a commanding lead, but it was the action behind that had the crowd on its feet.

Ash Sutton, Andrew Jordan and Bobby Thompson hustled by Aiden Moffat's Mercedes on lap three, and Sutton was at it again one tour later as he blasted past Adam Morgan and Jake Hill into third position.

Adrian Flux Subaru Racing's Sutton scythed his way by Tom Chilton's Ford at Graham Hill Bend on lap seven, and the latter was further shuffled down the order by Hill, Morgan and Jordan. Stephen Jelley joined the exciting front-running action in Team Parker Racing BMW 1 Series and battle raged for the remainder of the race.

By mid-distance it was Cook versus Sutton versus Jordan for the race lead and the ballast-laden Honda of the long-time race leader couldn't hang on.

Sutton made one of his textbook moves at Graham Hill Bend to snatch the lead but he was immediately put under pressure by Jordan. The 2013 Champion eventually cruised by the 2017 Champion across the start/finish line on lap 16 and took the first win of the season for the Bavarian marque.

"Ash is probably one of the best racers in the championship," continued Jordan. "It was for me and him to fight out and we both want to get points, but I want to get wins as well. I'm sure people think because we've had limited testing we'll keep getting quicker and quicker but I don't think that'll be the case just because it's been rolled out in such good trim."

Young gun Sutton held on to second but not before withstanding an almighty effort from Morgan, Hill, Tom Ingram and Jelley. Team Parker Racing's Jelley briefly held third before getting shuffled back and it was Morgan then running side-by-side with Sutton as the quintet approached the chequered flag. A photo finish confirmed Sutton's second place by just 0.022s from Morgan, with Hill, Ingram and Jelley following less than a second behind.

"I wish I had the power of the BMW," said Sutton. "I think I could have won that race quite easily like he did. I ran out of tyres and that was quite obvious as I was driving the wheels off it. When you're a sitting duck on a tyre that's going away then there's only so much you can do.

"With those guys coming up so fast, it's sort of fighting a losing battle. It's whether you play it safe and lose out or try and see it out and I'm always the latter."

Podium man Morgan is delighted with his points return so far, particularly considering his showing on Saturday. "It's difficult when you're attacking and defending at the same time but it's been a mega start to the day from starting down in 23rd with fifth and seventh," he enthused. "We're hopeful and positive. Let's see if we can come away with another good haul of points in race three."

Cook had to settle for seventh at the finish, whilst Rory Butcher claimed his second top ten finish of the day in his AmD-run Honda Civic Type R.

Chilton faded to ninth in the closing stages ahead of Senna Proctor's Subaru Levorg.

2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Round 2 – Brands Hatch Indy

1 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing 24 laps
2 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +9.728s
3 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +9.750s
4 Jake HILL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +9.860s
5 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters +10.015s
6 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +10.023s
7 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +11.510s
8 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +13.163s
9 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +14.106s
10 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +14.439s
11 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +14.526s
12 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +14.788s
13 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +15.147s
14 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +15.466s
15 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +16.482s
16 Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +17.108s
17 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +21.245s
18 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +21.763s
19 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +21.987s
20 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing +23.082s
21 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +24.278s
22 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +26.639s
23 Michael CREES (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +26.770s
24 Rob SMITH (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +25.997s
25 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +36.441s
26 Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with Motorbase +38.168s
27 Mark BLUNDELL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +40.759s
28 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport 1 lap
29 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing 8 laps
30 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport 17 laps

7th April 2019