JORDAN "HUNGRIER THAN EVER" FOR SUCCESS
He might be the oldest driver on the grid, but at 48, Mike
Jordan (Sutton Coldfield) says his win at Mondello Park has
made him "hungrier than ever before" as he prepares
to do battle in this coming Sunday's (14 May) Dunlop MSA British
Touring Car Championship rounds at Oulton Park.
Jordan, driving his Team Eurotech with John Guest Racing
Honda, romped to a hugely popular maiden win in Britain's
most famous motor racing championship at the Mondello track
in Ireland three weeks ago.
In doing so, he became the oldest driver in history to win
a BTCC race. But he says the success has re-energised his
thirst for more victory champagne.
Jordan said: "It's made me really hungry - hungrier
than I've ever been at any point in my career - and given
me a huge shot of self confidence. I'm so revved up for it
and that's something that's spread itself to every member
of the team.
"It's given me more of a boost than anyone could imagine."
And Jordan believes the win will only help his performance
at the Oulton track - a circuit for which he holds a deep
passion and which is also the scene of some of his greatest
triumphs.
"The win has taken off a certain amount of in-built
pressure to satisfy my sponsors - that kind of pressure can
have a negative effect," added Jordan. "It's made
me more relaxed so I think I'll enjoy it even more and as
a result perform better.
"At Oulton I want to get up there and be on the podium
again, but I know how difficult it is to reach that level
and this is ultra-competitive. I love Oulton - certainly two
of the corners, Druids and Cascades, require a lot of bravery,
but it really is a proper driver's circuit. I can't wait to
get stuck in."
Jordan says his Mondello win was justified - he took advantage
of the reversed grid rule and got an early break while others
behind battled held up one another. And he says that the celebrations
are still only half complete.
"I don't think we got lucky that Mondello - our win
was well deserved," said Jordan. "The battle behind
certainly helped me build up a few seconds' lead, but even
when that settled down my lap times were very comparable with
the best of the rest. Nobody could catch me.
"Unfortunately, we never got the chance to go out and
celebrate - a lot of the team had to drive back home so some
of us stayed and had a quiet pizza in Naas! But we've got
a mid-season break coming up and there's a great little kart
track near Tamworth. I think I'll take everyone there for
an evening out..."
The BTCC will be in race action three times at Oulton Park
on Sunday and the crowds will also be able to meet the drivers
for autographs and give-aways during the hugely popular Pit
Lane Walkabout. In addition, there will be a further six championship
races from high-profile manufacturers BMW, Porsche, Renault
and SEAT.
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