Motorbase Performance has announced Andrew Jordan and Pirtek Racing as the first signing for the Kent-based squad’s 2016 campaign.

Jordan, the 2013 champion and 14–times race winner, joins David Bartrum’s squad for his ninth season competing in the BTCC, and the Red Bull athlete believes that the mountune-powered Ford Focus ST represents one of the strongest packages on the grid as he looks to reclaim the drivers’ crown.

“The car is obviously very quick and looks very well sorted,” said Jordan, who raced against the Ford Focus over the second half of 2015. “From what I’ve seen, it looks after its tyres very well and carries the extra weight well.”

“You need to have a passion to succeed in the BTCC and we want to be with a team that really wants to win. David and the team at Motorbase have that passion and determination,” Jordan continued. “I want to arrive at race weekends knowing that we’re going to be in a position to challenge for race wins.”

The 26-year-old also brings long-term sponsor Pirtek to the Motorbase set-up, with a new striking blue, yellow and red livery for the Ford Focus ST set to be unveiled in the coming weeks.

“Andrew is a proven winner and has been the perfect partner for Pirtek,” said Pirtek’s Marketing Manager Tammie Argent-Peters. “The Motorbase Ford Focus represents a real opportunity for Andrew to reclaim his BTCC crown, and I know that everyone at Pirtek will be backing him all the way.”

“It’s great to have Andrew on board;” added Motorbase Performance Team Principal David Bartrum. “He’s a fantastic driver with a proven BTCC pedigree and has all of the right ingredients to help Motorbase Performance push on and challenge for the BTCC crown.”

“He’s everything you look for in your driver line-up and as a former champion he understands what is required to compete and win at the very top level;” Bartrum continued. “Equally, we’re very excited to welcome Pirtek to the Motorbase family. They’re a well-known and respected brand and we are very much looking forward to working with them on and off-track.”

Despite only contesting half of the 2015 season after returning to the BTCC grid at Snetterton in August, Motorbase amassed an impressive seven independent race wins, four outright race wins and four further podiums across four race weekends. Heading into a comprehensive winter testing programme, Team Boss Bartrum is determined to carry this momentum forward into next year as the squad prepares to mount a serious title bid in 2016.

He concluded: “2016 is already shaping up really well for Motorbase and Andrew’s signing is another building block in our preparation for a full championship title assault next season.”

Watch an exclusive video of the deal featuring interviews from Jordan and Bartrum from ITV Sport by clicking here.