Former British GT champion Mike Jordan is to tackle a rally for the first time when he drives a Mk1 Ford Escort in the opening round of the 2004 Armajaro MSA British Historic Rally Championship.

Jordan, who was a podium finisher in the 2003 FIA GT Championship, has accepted an invitation from XS Racing to drive the RS2000 of Steve Britton on the Robin Hood Historic Forest Stages over the weekend of 6/7 March.

"I've never done a rally, but I've always wanted to since I was about 17," reckons Jordan. "I've been talking about having a go for a while and the chance to do it has come about through Jon Cropper at XS. I've not even seen the car yet, so it will be a baptism of fire!"

Jordan is taking the chance to try historic rallying before the racing season begins. His focus for 2004 is a dual assault on the British GT Championship and the Le Mans Endurance Series, so the rally outing is purely for the fun of driving on the loose.

"I've walked through a forest with the kids before, but I've not really got a clue what to expect," he admits. "I'll just do this one and see how we get on," says Jordan, who will be partnered by the car's regular co-driver Graham Henshaw.

Just to add to his learning curve, Jordan's first taste of rallying will be in the dark as the Robin Hood starts with four stages on Saturday evening. "I have driven competitively in the dark before, but that was at Daytona," he admits, recognising that the Rother Valley stage has little in common with the famous American banked race circuit.

Jordan's rally outing will be watched with interest by his teenage son Andrew, who is aiming at a career in rallying. Currently, Andrew is competing successfully in Junior Rallycross, but is eager to switch to rallying as soon as he is old enough.