Motorbase tests Jordan, Kane, MacDowall

Lichfield racer Jordan (pictured during today's test) is looking for a new drive for 2010’s HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship after Vauxhall withdrew its VX Racing team from the series.

Kane, who starred for David Bartrum’s squad in 2008, will surely be eager to return to the UK’s top motor racing arena after fellow Northern Irishman Colin Turkington’s title-winning success of this season.

For Clio Cup series runner-up MacDowall, meanwhile, today marked his first-ever run in a BTCC car.

Motorbase team principal Bartrum told btcc.net: “I’ve been highly impressed with all three drivers and that’s not some team manager talking mouthwash during the winter break – it’s the truth.

“Andrew’s is a highly focused driver waiting for that next stage in his career and fitted in right away, Kane was just immediately very fast and young Alex did a great job. He was straight on it.”

Jordan, who has openly said in an interview on btcc.net that he wants to silence any critics in 2010, commented: “I knew I was going to enjoy the BMW – it drives from the right end! But it was also interesting to see just why its race pace is so good and why it looks after its tyres so well.”

The 20-year-old added: “I’ve enjoyed the day tremendously. And, yes, this is a serious test and a serious look at the team. David Bartrum knows what he wants and he wants to win, plus the BMW’s race pace ticks a lot of boxes and I don’t mind the car moving around a bit. Rear-wheel-drive probably suits my driving technique a bit more because you can be a bit more aggressive with steering input which is my style.”

Kane said he hopes to return to the BTCC in 2010 with Motorbase and believes should he do so he can join newly-crowned champion Colin Turkington in trying to make it back-to-back BTCC titles for Northern Ireland.

The 29-year-old from Ballynahinch added: “David wanted me down to try the car and we’ve been talking for some months about racing together again. The car is a lot, lot better compared to how I last drove it in 2008 and I’m really pleased how the day went. The way the car performed and I performed in such a short space of time was very good. Every change was positive.

“David has definitely taken the team a step forward and I think if I was in the team next year there’d be a realistic chance of going for the championship. Colin has done a great job this year and he really deserves it but it’d be great having two Northern Irishman fighting for the title – I’d definitely be up for a challenge like that.”

MacDowall, aged just 18 from Carlisle, said the BTCC was his future target but maybe not until 2011. He explained: “This test was to see what a top BTCC team and car is about as well as getting used to rear-wheel-drive and learning the characteristics of this type of car. I thought today went well – Jonathan Adam set me a benchmark time and when we compared data later I was matching what he’d done. It has much more grip than I’m used to.

“Maybe if an opening was to come up towards the end of next season this test would put my name in the frame but, realistically, I think next year it’ll be another season of Clios or maybe the SEAT Eurocup.”