Brands Hatch BTCC: Jordan fights off Turkington to head BMW 1-2

Tom Chilton (Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall) had started the race from pole position but Jordan powered from third on the grid to leapfrog everyone when the lights went out, grabbing the lead around the outside going into Paddock Hill Bend.

Chilton fell back at the clutches of third placed Colin Turkington (WSR BMW) on lap 17, and then Turkington set off after Jordan. He quickly chopped into Jordan’s two-second lead and was right in his wheeltracks over the closing turns.

The two made slight contact at the final corner, but Jordan held on to win by 0.3s.

“That wasn’t the most comfortable moment in my career when I saw Colin coming up behind me,” said Jordan. “I had hurt my tyres earlier on, and in that instance it is easy to push too hard but I made it.

“This was a fantastic start to my career with WSR and the BMW was awesome. Colin and I are proper drivers and we were able to race well. This was my first weekend with the car and it has been a good learning process. We still have got more to come, so I am delighted.”

Turkington said that he was pleased to have rescued his weekend after shunting out of the opener at the start line.

“It is easy to let your head drop in this championship, but I know how quickly things can turn around to you have to push on,” said Turkington. “The guys gave me a great car and my softer-spec tyres held on wonderfully.”

Chilton finished in third place on Vauxhall’s return to the championship as a factory-blessed team, while Matt Neal (Team Dynamics Honda) powered from 11th place on the grid to grab fourth.

Adam Morgan (Ciceley Racing Mercedes) and Rob Collard (WSR BMW) rounded out the top six.

Matt James / Autosport