Andrew Jordan wants to turn his focus to qualifying runs when BMW Pirtek Racing resume testing in the UK with a view to taking pole position at Brands Hatch.
Jordan, who enjoyed two race victories last season, last claimed pole position in the British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton in 2014.
He is currently at Castelloli Circuit in Spain alongside new team-mates Colin Turkington and Rob Collard testing his new BMW 125i M Sport challenger.
The BMW-backed outfit are then scheduled to return to the UK for the remainder of their winter testing programme prior to the Season Launch at Donington Park on March 16th.
Speaking to TouringCars.net in London last week, Jordan commented:
“When we come back to the UK I want to do some work on qualifying simulations and do a bit of work on that, personally, just to make sure I can get the most out of the tyres [in terms of] rear-wheel drive.
“I’ve had years of front-wheel drive so you know, you get a feeling for when you can get one lap in, whereas that’s new to me,” he continued.
“When I did the testing I had a couple of new tyre runs and it definitely reacts differently to get the best out of that tyre. My aim is to go to Brands and challenge for pole, so I want to make sure I’m in the best position to do that.”
Jordan also dovetails his BTCC commitments with outings in historic racing, and will also contest the British round of the World Rallycross Championship at Lydden Hill this summer.
He believes maintaining a level of track time throughout the winter months pays dividends at the start of a new season.
“I’ve done a lot of go-karting through the winter which I think definitely keeps you sharp and it’s good fitness.” admitted Jordan.
“Seat time is good in whatever car, I was testing a Mini at Brands the other day and it was good just to get a bit of seat time on a race track, because certainly after a winter everything feels a bit quicker than it normally does, just until it all settles down.
“I love driving cars and I’d drive cars every weekend if I could. Do I do the historics to keep sharp? No, I do it because it’s great fun, but the more cars you can drive, the more seat time you can get, it can only be a good thing.”