Andrew Jordan achieved his target of securing third place in the Independents’ Trophy for Pirtek Racing during the final weekend of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season at Silverstone (15/16 October).Andrew raced his Vauxhall Vectra for the final time in the concluding three rounds of the 30-race season at the home of British motor racing. Importantly, he retained sixth place overall in the BTCC drivers’ standings and third in the Independents’ category thanks to three strong races, with his results including two fifth places. Meanwhile, his Pirtek Racing team mate Jeff Smith raced hard to claim a top 15 finish after qualifying dramas left him at the tail of the 30-car grid. Jeff’s ill fortune continued on race day when he picked up a drive through penalty in the first race and a puncture in the last race.Qualifying on Saturday was immensely competitive and a best lap less than seven-tenths of a second away from pole position left Andrew down in twelfth place on the grid. “Qualifying was a disaster; I’ve never had so much snap oversteer and we were a chunk off,” he said.“It was better in the races and we got from twelfth to seventh in the first race and then scored two fifth places. It was a good solid weekend and I’d have liked to get on the podium in race three. But we just didn’t have the pace in a straight-line. In the first race Dave Newsham got into me at Brooklands and turned me sideways; the SEATs were very strong in a straight-line.”After fighting up to fifth place in the second race, the team had to work very hard to get Andrew’s car ready for the third and final race when a cracked suspension upright was found. It was probably the legacy of the hit from Newsham in the first race and a hairline crack worsened during the second race. It was touch and go to get the job done in the time available, but the Pirtek crew had the car ready in time for the last race of the season.“The guys did a good job to get it ready,” said Jordan. “In the last race I thought I’d done enough to get fourth from Boardman on the first lap.” However, Boardman used the straight-line speed of the SEAT to good effort and another fifth place was Andrew’s result to wrap up a superb season.