There was high praise all-round from Motorbase Performance and new signing Andrew Jordan following the 2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion’s maiden run in the mountune-powered Ford Focus ST earlier this week.

Having recently announced his move to David Bartrum’s squad for the 2016 season, 14-times race winner Jordan took to the track for the first time on Wednesday (11 November) at the Wrotham-based outfit’s local circuit, Brands Hatch.

“Today has been all about getting a feel for the car and getting to know the team but it’s been really productive;” said Jordan. “After spending a couple days with the boys in the workshop I feel really comfortable in the team and the test couldn’t have gone any better to be honest.”

Having taken four race wins and three pole positions from the final four rounds of 2015, the Motorbase Focus was the car to beat in the second half of the season and Jordan was keen to see if the car lived up to the hype.

“After watching the Focus this year I was really looking forward to seeing how it handled” commented the Red Bull athlete.

“I know that people will be expecting me to say this, but the car genuinely impressed me. Motorbase have clearly done a great job getting the car to where it is now, both with the engine and chassis development and it’s been a long time since I’ve felt that happy in a touring car.

“We have a great platform to build on for next year and everyone in the team is confident that we have a strong package that can challenge for the title;” added Jordan.

“For now though, the focus is on pre-season testing. We have some away-days planned to try and beat the UK weather and I can’t wait to get stuck in!”

Mat Jackson was also on-hand throughout the day to lend his expertise and feedback during the squad’s first winter test and Motorbase Team Manager Oly Collins was equally pleased with the day’s results.

“It’s great to welcome Andrew to the team and today was the ideal first test for him. The conditions were extremely good for this time of year – mild and dry – so what was going to be just an initial run in the car turned into quite a productive test.”

Collins continued; “It’s rare to able to do so much meaningful running prior to the cold weather and it’s given us a great understanding of how Andrew likes the car. He settled in to the team very well, as we all expected him to, and he was full of praise for our car as a complete package.”

It’s a fresh comparison of what he’s been used to for the last year and it’s encouraging to hear that the Focus performed as well for him.”

“There is no doubting Andrew’s ability and experience so there was no concern from any of us prior to the test and we all enjoyed the day getting to know each other.

“There’s a real buzz around the team at the moment and we’re all keen to get next year’s campaign underway properly. There’s a lot of work still to do, but we’re starting early and ready to get going; 2016 starts here!”