Andrew Jordan “ticks all the boxes” for 888 boss Ian Harrison

Triple Eight Racing boss Ian Harrison said the signing of Andrew Jordan “ticks all the boxes” for the team, and he hopes to have the second MG seat filled in the coming weeks.

Harrison said the off-season had been slow rather than tough, in the wake of both Jason Plato and Sam Tordoff leaving the team at the end of the 2014 season.

And he also praised the current state of the championship, while adding there was room for improvement on the non-racing side.

Speaking to TouringCarTimes at the Autosport International Show, Harrison said: “Trying to replace Jason is quite difficult, so getting Andrew in the car ticks all the boxes for us going forward.

“It’s been quite a slow winter. I’m sure some of the other teams are sorted out, but I know quite a few of them aren’t. It’s been slower than it has in recent years, but we’re getting there, and in the next couple of weeks we’ll get it sorted.

“This is all about manufacturers at the end of the day, and they are selling products which are targeted at guys in their early 20s, so you need guys in your early 20s to promote it.”

A raft of rule changes were announced over the winter, but with certain details – such as success ballast – yet to be published.

Giving his take on the changes, Harrison said: “The ones that will make the difference haven’t been published yet, but you have to hope everyone will be on a level playing field.

“As long as we sort the rear-wheel drive issue out at the start, and off slow corners, then the parity’s there.”

The BTCC is expected to field a full 32-car grid in 2015, with triple world champion Andy Priaulx among its number.

Harrison said: “It just shows that the championship’s strong. The technical side’s good – whatever you think about NGTC, the facts are that we’ve got a full grid of cars.

“It’s been pushed on, especially by the likes of Peter Riches, who deserves a mention, as he’s done a really good job to push this forward.

“So technically, we are in a really good place, but on the other side of the championship, there’s still room for improvement.”