2013 BTCC champion Andrew Jordan returns to his roots

Reigning British Touring Car Champion Andrew Jordan went back to where his motorsport journey began this week. During a Media Day for the British round of the newly-launched World Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill he swapped his usual drive, a Honda Civic touring car, for a fire-breathing 600 bhp Ford Fiesta ST rallycross Supercar. He’ll be back at the same track again next month for his one-off appearance in the Series and spoke enthusiastically of his pleasure at returning to the course.

How does it feel to be back to your rallycross roots?

"Feels like coming home a bit. That's where I started back in 2004. I'm really happy to be back, looking forward to the event. Such a good car, such a good team and such a good brand – I'm really pleased."

Andrew Jordan, Pirtek Racing

Photo by: Pat Cranham

"I expect to be up there. I think It's going to be difficult and it's always difficult trying to take on the guys on the top of their game in the discipline they're doing all the time. I'll try hard and see what we can do."

What exactly is your role within the Olsbergs MSE team that runs the Fiesta ST Supercars?

"I'm doing some tarmac driver coaching with the guys and I'm gonna be doing some testing through the season. Part of that deal was to come and do the Lydden event."

In the team you have some formidable rallycross drivers.

"Yeah."

Do they really still need a coach?

"Yeah, we always try to bring up, learn from touring cars and circuit racing and try and see if any of that can translate into rallycross. Ekstrom (another Red Bull-backed athlete) was very quick in Sweden last year. So we're just trying to see if there's anything we can bring over and I can bring forward to the team to try to improve them as a whole. Of course my aim is to do as well as I can at Lydden."

Are you looking forward to some more rallycross outings in the future?

"I'd like to do some more, it's just in a minute touring cars are my main thing."

Purely in terms of pleasure, what's more fun, driving a touring car or a rallycross supercar?

"Very different challenges. This (the rallycross car) is just so quick, it's unbelievable. In the touring car you need much more finesse to get a lap time out of it, with lower horsepower it's much more momentum-based."

You’ve been a Red Bull athlete for a few months now. How much has your life changed since you have had this backing? You must have many more PR and marketing responsibilities.

"They're helping a lot with my PR and my marketing and linking through with other things. It's just great to be involved with a brand like that. It's something I'm really proud of. It taken a lot of time to get to that. I've been working on it for a long time. This is just a coincidence that the team has done a deal with Red Bull and it happens that I'm at Red Bull, so it's gone kind of hand in hand."

Red Bull is a very 'cool' brand. Did you have to change yourself to fit its philosophy?

"No, no. Literally I am as I was. It's working really well in a minute and I'm enjoying the relationship."

Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup

Photo by: Edge Photographics

"It certainly gives you more opportunities to maybe do that, but I don't want to do too much. Red Bull is such a big brad, involved in lots of different things, that it might open a few doors."

Finally, what do you think about the condition of the BTCC? It seems that the Series is going from strength to strength.

"It's the biggest grid it's been for a while, it's so competitive. To go into that with the number one on the car – I'm really happy with. My aim is to keep that from this year into next year."