Sam Tordoff will return to the British Touring Car Championship this season after agreeing a deal to run in the third Motorbase Performance Ford Focus RS.
Tordoff, who left to drive a Lamborghini Huracán for Barwell Motorsport in the British GT Championship after finishing runner-up to Gordon Shedden at the 2016 BTCC finale, will run alongside new team-mates Mat Jackson and Tom Chilton.
The 28-year old already has a record boasting six race victories, four pole positions and eleven fastest laps from over a hundred BTCC race starts.
His machine will race under the banner of Team GardX Racing, and also receives backing from Premia Solutions and AutosOnShow.
“I’m excited to be coming back to the BTCC this year;” commented Tordoff.
“It’s great to be representing the Ford brand, especially with it being 25 years since the RS was last on the grid. It’s also 60 years of BTCC as well this year, so there are a few cool anniversaries to mark the occasion.”
“When I left in 2016 I needed to clear my head and try something new. I wanted to drive a GT3 car and to race around Europe and having done that for a year I’ve reset and I’m ready to do battle again.
“I definitely have unfinished business in the BTCC. There’s one thing I need to come back for and that’s the drivers’ title. Having missed out on it by such a close margin, I wanted to come back in a situation that was enjoyable for me and in an environment where I fit in with the team and I’ve found the perfect solution with Motorbase.
“When I found out David’s plan with the new RS, that was the final seal of approval that I needed. They’ve re-engineered the car and the guys have put in so much work on the new RS to overcome what was lacking in the ST. I’m really confident with the package.
“Front wheel drive is not new to me, but it’s been a few years so I’m going to have a bit of transitional phase to get back into the zone again.
“But I wouldn’t be coming back or working with Motorbase if I didn’t think we could win the title, it’s as simple as that.”