News - Formula BMW UK, Rounds 13 and 14, Snetterton

Formula BMW travelled to Norfolk for the 7th meeting of the 2007 season to Snetterton, a circuit at which Jordan raced in his first ever car race and gained his first podium in the Junior Ginetta British Championship in 2006.

After two reasonable practices with finishes in the top ten, Jordan felt confident that this was the weekend that he would finally secure his maiden Formula BMW podium. Qualifying went well for the Tavistock youngster, with Jordan qualifying twice in seventh place. After not having a tow in either session Jordan knew that the pace was defiantly there to do well in the races.

However at the end of the second session, The drama was then to come. The scrutineers always select cars to be checked after each event, whether qualifying or racing. After the second session Jordan’s car was selected to be checked for eligibility. This was rather surprising as his car had already been checked after qualifying one. After the check on the car after Q2, Jordan and the team were advised that the car did not comply with diagrams shown in the championship rules. They said that the car did not match a diagram of the Ackerman steering layout, because the washers - in which the Ackerman steering is fitted - were fitted upside down. There was then confusion in this respect in that the MSA and BMW regulations contradict each other, but the steward chose to apply the full weight of the MSA wording. This meant that Jordan had his times disqualified from the session, placed at the back of the grid (with a further 10 seconds penalty), and deducted six championship points. Jordan said: "I qualified seventh for the second race and it would have been a good opportunity from there to get on the podium, but there is a problem that is not quite right with the car that does not make a difference to the performance, but because of the rules I had to be excluded and have my times disallowed. On the steering there is a spacer that sits below the rose joint and we had it above, in the wrong place. It is so minimal it's unbelievable. We don't think it makes much difference, but while we accept that there need to be rules, we think the penalty is really harsh. The back of the grid is bad enough, but to have ten seconds on that it is really harsh. It will now be a real uphill struggle to get any kind of good results from the race."

The weather on Sunday morning was cloudy and warm but the track was still wet from heavy overnight rain. With the race scheduled for an early start, tyre choice would be very important to gain a good result. Jordan started well moving up into 5th place. The track conditions at the early stages of the race was one dry line with wet patches all around the other parts of the circuit. With these conditions Jordan found it hard to impress into the top 5. In 6th for most of the race his pace was very strong. Posting the fastest time in the first sector, his speed was unable to allow him to move up into the podium positions as overtaking was nearly impossible. Finishing a strong 6th place was a little disappointing considering the speed he had.

By race 2 the circuit was dry. Starting at the back of the grid because of his penalty from qualifying was going to be a new experience for Jordan. He was joined by Henry Surtees who had also been penalised for bushes being fitted upside down on his suspension As the lights went out for the rest of the field Jordan and Henry were left stationery at the back of the grid. After what seemed like an eternity, eventually 10 seconds passed and the flag was waved to send them on their way to try and chase down the rest of the field. Jordan and Henry had decided before the race to catch the pack as a team, following each other and pushing each other on. Both proceeded to set about first catching and then carving up through the field. Jordan passed Henry and set a new lap record, only being denied this honour when Henry went one tenth of a second quicker. By lap 12 Jordan had moved up to 10th and was closing in on the edge of the top six.. Jordan was now on fire and lapped quicker than the leaders pace. After trying to make a move on Daniel Mackenzie at the esses, Jordan unfortunately clipped his rear wheel as Mackenzie drifted out and denied Jordan of the room to overtake him. This resulted in Jordan leaving the circuit and having a small spin. Initially Williams thought the cars suspension was broken but on realisation that it wasn’t rejoined the track now in 13th place. It was an unfortunate end to what had been described by the TV commentators as the drive of the day along with Henry Surtees. The pace Jordan showed in both races bodes well for the rest of the season, with only two meetings to go Jordan still has been denied of that elusive first podium.

He commented on the weekend: "This weekend has been really up and down. To begin with I thought that I was on for two podiums. The first race was good and I was pleased with a top six finish and the speed I had shown. The second race always seems to go better for me but unfortunately with the penalty it was always going to be difficult to get a good finish. I am just pleased that I am now really being noticed for the speed I have got. I have been denied of a win and possibly a podium this weekend so I feel a little disappointed. I am really looking forward to the next two races and I think its only going to get better!"

The next race for the Formula BMW season is at Brands Hatch on the 19th and 20th of August.