Mixed emotions for Sam Tordoff over missed pole

Sam Tordoff admitted to mixed emotions after missing out on pole position for the latest rounds of the BTCC season at Rockingham.

Tordoff, the driver with the best qualifying average this season, looked well set to put his bright pink Ford Focus on pole as he headed the times going into the latter stages of the session only to be pipped late on by Adam Morgan.

Second place still equalled Tordoff’s best qualifying result of the year and means he will start on the front row for the third time, with the Motorbase driver insisting that he will still in a good position to push for some big points on race day.

“We held onto pole for a long time and then got pipped at the end,” he said. “It’s frustrating in one sense, but I feel good on the other as we did a few laps that were good enough for our position and Adam just pulled one out at the end.

“We know we have a good car and come rain or dry tomorrow, I feel comfortable with where we are. Had we qualified near the back it would have been difficult, but I have a clear track ahead of me when the lights go out and that will make a huge difference.

“I still live in hope that we can salvage something from the championship as there are still twelve races to go and a lot of points on the table. We need a big score on race day and in the meetings to come if we want to be in the mix when we get to Brands Hatch GP.”