Jordan thrilled to take maiden pole

The 19-year-old Vauxhall driver had qualified a career-best second in today's session at Donington Park anyway, but he then inherited the top spot when his team-mate Fabrizio Giovanardi was sent to the back of the grid after his Vectra failed to start on the weighbridge at the end of the session.

"I'm absolutely over the moon," Jordan told AUTOSPORT. "We knew we had the pace in little bits from the practice times and I could do 1m13.4s quite easily.

"From there I knew I had to dig deep, which I did, and that got me a 13.2, which was pretty much on Fabrizio's pace. I was delighted just to get second, so then for Fabrizio to have his problem... Obviously I'm sorry for him, but for me it's fantastic to get pole.

"I had my dad on the radio after I set my time and he warned me that [Jason] Plato and Harry [Vaulkhard] were both on quick laps, so I didn't celebrate until I knew they hadn't beaten me. It's just brilliant."

Jordan said that the start of Sunday's first BTCC race would be crucial to his hopes of scoring his maiden win.

"Getting these things off the line is not easy, but I've been making good starts all year so hopefully we can do the same again," he added. "I've proved my point - that the pace is there - despite a tough start to the season, so let's hope we can get the job done tomorrow.

"I reckon the BMWs will be really strong over a race distance," he added. "Sure, Stephen Jelley is the best of them in fifth, so hopefully he and Rob Collard [sharing the third row] will have another crash and stay well away from me!"