Snetterton Race Two: Jordan takes the first win of the season for Pirtek Racing

Andrew Jordan has won the second Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race of the day at Snetterton circuit – making it the first of the season for Pirtek Racing. Another action-fuelled race saw some exciting racing throughout the field.

     An engine failure at the end of the first race saw Rob Collard sitting out of race two – albeit three test laps - whilst Chris James was also having problems on the warm-up lap – and soon pulled into the pits with a driveshaft problem. Rob Austin was another victim of the formation lap, he too limping into the pits and retiring from the race.
     Jason Plato had an almighty start off the line with Andrew Jordan flying into second and Matt Neal into third after a strong launch off the line. Daniel Welch had a terrible start off the line and was caught up with Ollie Jackson and Adam Morgan, the latter spinning  off track, resulting in a puncture and eventual retirement. With Tom Onslow-Cole continuing his on track battles, this time with Dynojet’s Wrathall, Andy Neate was dicing for position with Dave Newsham, who was making his way through the field in his ES Racing Vectra having started from the back due to disqualification in race one.
     After the issues during the first lap, the Proton of Dan Welch came into the pits with a problem, but was able to re-join the race. Andrew Jordan was still in second place, and was closing the gap to the Triple Eight run MG of Jason Plato.
     Robb Holland, who suffered heavy damage after the race one incident with Adam Morgan, was out in track and running well, the Team HARD mechanics doing a great job between the two races. Scotsman Gordon Shedden was running strongly in fifth position, and closing in on Frank Wrathall in fourth place.
     With all the leaders running closely together, Neal saw an opportunity and went through to second place with Shedden too moving up the field. It was a case of old rivals meet again as Plato and Neal were now running together for the first time on track since the championship’s return.
     Mat Jackson was again having a strong race for Redstone Racing, and was sitting in seventh in the NGTC Ford, with Dave Newsham, who alike Shedden in race one, had had a storming race through the field to be in ninth place with a number of laps remaining.
     Despite making a move on Matt Neal for second, the Honda Civic having run wide at Williams, the sister Honda of Andrew Jordan couldn’t quite make the attack. Having had a somewhat quiet race one, Aron Smith was running in tenth position in the S2000 spec Ford ST, the Irishman finally getting some decent results after a shaky start to the season.

Aron Smith had a much better weekend at Snetterton.
Picture Credit: Marc Waller.

With two laps to go, it was looking tight at the top, with Matt Neal running quicker than Jason Plato. The Honda Racing driver was setting up for a move on his arch rival once more, whilst team mate Shedden was also trying to make a move on Andrew Jordan at Montreal, but had to settle for fourth.
     Coming out of Agostini, Jason Plato went slightly wide but held on to his leading place, but with dirty tyres going through Oggies, Plato was going to have to be weary of Neal making a move on the straight. A tap from Matt Neal at Coram saw Plato slide and the Honda take the lead, regaining second place a tap back from Jason Plato resulted in Matt Neal flying across the grass – Andrew Jordan grabbing the opportunity with both hands to take the lead of the race going onto the final lap. Gordon Shedden, with damage to the front wing of his Honda Civic, also made his move for Shedden whilst the scuffle between Plato and Neal broke out. Jason managed to hold onto third place with Matt Neal making his way back to fourth.

Chasing Cars; The leaders chase each other into Riches before chaos unfolded.
Picture Credit: Marc Waller.

But it was Andrew Jordan, who took his long awaited win across the line, followed closely behind by Gordon Shedden and Jason Plato. Mat Jackson scored another solid result for Redstone Racing in sixth, with Dave Newsham driving well from the back of the grid to finish in eighth. Robb Holland got into the points on his debut weekend, ending the race ahead of Ollie Jackson in fourteenth.

Relief: Jordan finally celebrates a win this season.
Picture Credit: Marc Waller.

Going into the final race, Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden were tied in the championship standings, with both on 247 points overall. Who would be leading come the end of the day?

Final Results:

1) Andrew Jordan

2) Gordon Shedden

3) Jason Plato

4) Matt Neal

5) Frank Wrathall

6) Mat Jackson

7) Tom Onslow-Cole

8) Dave Newsham

9) Lea Wood

10) Aron Smith

11) Jeff Smith

12) Andy Neate

13) Nick Foster

14) Robb Holland

15) Ollie Jackson

Fastest Lap: Gordon Shedden - Lap 3 - 1.58.460