Snetterton blow for CBT & Jordan / British Touring Cars

The Snetterton BTCC weekend proved incredibly tough for CBT Motorsport driver Andrew Jordan — a heavy free practice accident sent Andrew to hospital with concussion and forced him to miss the third race of the weekend in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

The Norfolk venue was the setting for rounds 16, 17 and 18 and the start of the second half of the BTCC season, and Andrew and the team headed east in confident mood after the mid-season break. However, the weekend went badly wrong in the opening free practice session when, having set the fastest time on a damp track, the Pirtek car spun backward off the track at the high-speed first corner. Andrew suffered concussion in the heavy impact and, after a visit to hospital, was deemed unfit to drive in the afternoon’s qualifying session.

“I’m gutted,” said Andrew. “I would’ve loved to have been out there but I have to listen to doctors’ orders. I do feel a bit tired and groggy so I think it’s best that I get a good rest tonight and come back tomorrow. It’s frustrating of course but I hope to get the all-clear in the morning.”

More checks by the BTCC medical team on Sunday morning cleared Andrew to race but, having missed qualifying, he was forced to start the opening race from the back of the grid. Meanwhile, the Pirtek crew had done a great job to get the Honda ready to race.

From 31st place on the opening lap, Andrew set himself a target to pass 12 cars despite carrying 27kg of success ballast. However, he did better than that to finish 16th. Race two started with a superb move into the Montreal Hairpin and Andrew was up to 10th before an early safety car period. Soon after the restart he was forced off the track and spun back down the order and had to fight back to 15th at the flag. However, the expected after-effects of the concussion were coming through and he was exhausted by the end of the second race. After another medical examination, it was confirmed he wasn’t well enough to contest the third and final race of the day.

Inevitably the Snetterton weekend has cost Andrew ground in the championship and he now lies fourth, but he has already vowed to be back to 100% fitness and battling hard when the season continues at Knockhill on 24 August.