Sam Tordoff is downbeat on his chances of getting back into the British Touring Car Championship title fight after a frustrating retirement in the opening race at Rockingham.
The GardX Protection-backed racer made a level start with pole sitter Adam Morgan’s Mercedes A-Class but was tagged by Dan Cammish behind heading into Deene Hairpin.
The works BMW of Andrew Jordan and Honda of Matt Neal then made further contact with Tordoff’s distinctive pink Ford Focus RS and forced him into retirement.
It marks the latest chapter in a disappointing spell for the 2016 championship runner-up – the best average qualifier in 2018 – as he now sits 77 points adrift of new championship leader Colin Turkington.
“Barring a miracle, I think that’s our championship done. Unfortunately as it’s Race 1 it’s not just the DNF, it’s where it also leaves us for Races 2 and 3,” explained Tordoff to TouringCars.net.
“I had a good start, the rest of the pack got bogged down and me and Adam [Morgan] were away. As far as I was concerned, I was driving into Turn 2 behind Adam and we were going to drive off into the sunset.
“Then I got collected, which was unfortunate. I hope he gets excluded, because it’s ruined my weekend and it should ruin his, that’s the only fair way to do it.
“I wasn’t involved in what was going on, he was out-braking whoever and then used me as a brake when he realised he couldn’t stop.
“It’s ruined another weekend. Yet again, we’ve been fastest qualifier – yet again I’ve got absolutely nothing to show for it and it’s not my fault.”
He also revealed the extent of the damage on the car, with Motorbase Performance set to work through until the second contest at 14:25 BST to put Tordoff back out.
“It’s actually quite bad, because after the initial hit we then got turned round and for three corners continued to be hit with everyone else that was coming through. It’s done all four corners of the car so we’ve got some work to do, unfortunately.”
He does believe, however, that the early afternoon rain shower at Rockingham could play into his hands as he looks to mount a fightback.
“The rain is good for me, because otherwise we’re starting dead last on the hard tyre; this might be the bit of fortune we need to help us come through the pack.”