Jordan out to silence critics in 2010

Jordan, still only 19 when the cars lined up on the grid for round one at Brands Hatch in April, had secured what many perceived to be a dream ticket for 2009 – the junior driver’s seat with reigning champion team VX Racing alongside double champions both Matt Neal and Fabrizio Giovanardi.

But it was perhaps a double-edged sword. He was in the title-winning car of the past two years, the Vauxhall Vectra, and would be learning from two real masters. The expectation, then, was massive.

Jordan told btcc.net: “I think people forget that I’m still only 20 and this was my second full season in circuit racing so it was a huge step up to go to a factory team. But I’ve still been given a bit of stick and a few things have been said or written… that I was the most disappointing driver of 2009 and that I under-delivered. That’s other people’s opinions but, to be honest, it fires me up to prove them wrong.

“I find it quite funny that people would write me off just because I didn't win a race this season. All I would say is that it’s a big mistake to write me off. If I was the most disappointing driver this season, I guarantee I will be the biggest surprise next season.”

The 2009 season started oh-so-nearly on a high for Jordan. In the very first race he was in second, ahead of Giovanardi and challenging Neal for the win when, cruelly, his car broke down at the side of the track. A terrific drive back up to fifth in race two followed but there was another non-finish in race three, again when his car let him down.

In many ways, the day set the tone for the rest of the season. Results were inconsistent: there would be 11 no-scores from the season’s 30 races, but there was plenty shout about as well with four podium results – twice as many as Jonathan Adam who finished two spots ahead of tenth-placed Jordan in the final standings – and a ‘youngest-ever’ pole position at Donington Park. Jordan also twice led races and at Rockingham he was momentarily on course for a maiden win until Stephen Jelley’s super-quick BMW found a way past.

The Lichfield racer added: “The season didn’t go as I’d hoped, results-wise, but I’ve still proved my pace against my team-mates and learnt a huge amount. I’m aware I have a lot more to learn and this was apparent with how Fabrizio could drag results out of the Vauxhall when the car was off the pace, whereas I’d struggle a bit to give direction in trying to solve the problem. On saying that, sometimes none of us could solve the problem, for example if it was engine performance.

“The pole position at Donington plus the podiums – especially the Vauxhall 1-2-3 at Thruxton – were obvious highs for me. And at Rockingham I really thought I had a win at the half-way point of that race, but the BMW was just too quick. I didn’t make any mistakes or give up the lead easily so in a way it was a missed opportunity, but I drove the wheels off the car and that was the best I could achieve.”

And he said: “The only thing that niggles me about not winning a race is the fact people keep asking me when I'm going to win one! I'm not going to keep dwelling on it, otherwise it will take away my focus. It’s important to try and be as fast as possible and everything will fall into place. I suppose the biggest pressure in the BTCC is the pressure I put on myself, but this is an area I’ve improved on and will continue to do so.”

Jordan, of course, went into 2009 very much the BTCC’s ‘blue-eyed boy’. In his debut season of 2008 he’d starred as an 18-year-old rookie alongside dad Mike in their family-run Eurotech team’s Honda Integras. There was little expectation, but the youngster still stunned with his speed, car control, racecraft and results. Vauxhall made it clear when it announced him as one of its drivers in January that he was free to race equally against Neal and Giovanardi.

After results had not gone his way in the opening rounds, however, it was to be expected, quite reasonably, that he should then fall into a back-up role to his more senior team-mates. And while they became the team’s number one priority he still believes his time with VXR – and the ace Triple Eight Engineering concern behind the Vectras – will stand him in good stead for the future.

Jordan reflected: “It was very hard in a way going into the Vauxhall team as Matt and Fabrizio went into the season as championship contenders and, although my winter testing pace had been very good, I don't really think I was seen as a title contender. I probably would have said the same myself as I just didn’t have the experience so it’s always going to be hard to get the same support as the other two drivers.

“On saying that, the team was very helpful in bringing me on as a driver and on many occasions I could help Matt or Fabrizio with his title challenge. Coming from a family team meant I had to approach a big team in a different way and be a bit more assertive when I thought we needed to try something on the car – something that rubbed off from spending time with Matt and Fabrizio.

“I found their data very helpful as I could pick up different driving techniques from two very experienced touring car drivers, but they would also look at my data! No one stops learning… My racecraft and pace also improved massively during the season. Touring car racing is definitely not just about raw pace: you have to learn when to keep pushing forward or when to settle for that position and try and make more progress in the next race – it’s quite easy to forget there are three races in one day!”

Jordan’s up-bringing around motor sport clearly makes competing a passion. He regularly keeps his hand in on non-BTCC weekends with outings in rallycross – a discipline he revelled in several years ago – and sportscar events. Indeed, he and his father were class winners only last weekend at Brands Hatch. Having tasted success in the BTCC’s high-profile arena, though, Jordan is clearly hungry for more and, following Vauxhall’s withdrawal from the series, is now working towards a deal he hopes will enable him to break his victory duck – and hit back at those critics.

He said: “Right now I’m looking at various possibilities for 2010. Obviously a lot depends on sponsorship, but I have some very loyal sponsors in Pirtek, CBT and John Guest and hope to bring all of them forward with me into next season. There is something I am working on and if it comes off it will definitely give me a great chance to be a consistent race-winner and front-runner.”