Friday 14th January 2005

Jordan and Caine unveil British GT assault

Ex-TVR drivers share Porsche 911GT3RSR

---

Mike Jordan and Michael Caine are teaming up for an all-out assault on the 2005 British GT Championship. The former TVR Tuscan rivals will share the John Guest-backed Porsche 911GT3RSR from Team Eurotech in a concerted attack on the title.
 
Having raced against each other during the 2000 season, Jordan and Caine later competed together at Le Mans. "We want to go all out to win the title," says Jordan. "When we were Tuscan rivals, we traded race wins all season. In 2000, when Michael won the title, I was second," recalls Jordan.
 
"I'm excited to have Michael in the car; this is a chance for him to really get into racing a Porsche. We will be a strong partnership. He's very quick and has a great attitude," says Jordan.
 
Caine raced with Team Eurotech several times in 2004 when he shared the 911GT3 Cup car of Peter Chambers. Now, he will step up to the team's lead car and will shortly start a pre-season testing programme.
 
"For me, it's the chance of a lifetime to drive with someone who can both engineer and drive a car so well," says Caine. "It's great to have the opportunity for a full season and to be involved with everyone at Team Eurotech. The aim is to try and win the championship. I drove car at Donington last year and it was superb. I'm sure it will be even better this season."
 
The chance for Caine to join Team Eurotech came after Jordan's regular partner Mark Sumpter had a major sponsor pull out for 2005. "Mark has had to stand down from doing a full championship programme, but Mark and I certainly hope to do one or two other races together," explains Jordan.
 
The John Guest car (above) was unveiled in its all-new livery on the SRO stand at Autosport International yesterday, 13 January.

[steveherb]

Another Porsche? Yawn mode on (oh, and flameproof suit on as well!!)

[Ahonen]

It's not another Porsche, JWR ran one last year for MJ and Sumpter of course.

This year looks very, very good so far - especially in the top class.

[top fuel]

steveherb said:

Another Porsche? Yawn mode on (oh, and flameproof suit on as well!!)

Erm...

Flameproof suit is likely to needed here!

Mike Jordan and Mark Sumpter have been campaigning porsches for as long as I can remember. Mike Jordan has a very successful racing Porsche preparation outfit. He's a Team owner and driver, so not the "throw lots of cash at a team, hire some pro drivers and dominate" kind of person. Caine is in the seat due to one of Mark Sumpter's big sponsors pulling out.

It's not just "Another Porsche" it's a 911 RSR which they raced in the FIA GTs last year...

And i think If you look at the grids for 2004 you will find that there were about a maximum of 4 at any round in the top class. similar number to TVR T400Rs.
In fact, the variety of the British GT series was fantastic last year. Another Quick car that can contest the championship is the exact opposite of "Yawn Mode".

[steveherb]

Dont tell me who Jordan and Sumpter are, I've been watching sports cars since Jim Clark took on Graham Hill at Mallory Park, now they are real sports cars. Yep, no doubt that will be a cracking Porsche, but you've got to admit there are a few of them about. Much prefer to see a (competetive)Ultima, or indeed a Noble. It's just that one Porsche looks much like another, just advocating a bit of variety. Still, If Messrs Jordan and Sumpter think they can win with a Porsche, good luck to them. Personally I'll be trying to enter my Renault Scenic, any chance I'll get in?

[racefan_uk]

I'm guessing you don't pay that much attention to your sportscars then Steve as it's Jordan and CAINE in the car in 05. And as for variety. Err, how about 2, possibly three Moslers, three, possibly four TVR's, an Ultima, Monaro, and A N Other yet to be launched BRITISH GT2 runner?

And you'll not see a Noble against the RSR Porsches, it's a Cup Class car, so it will be up against the Lotus, Ferrari and Porsche Cup cars.


And no, you'll not get in with a Renault Scenic. You might try a Clio V6 mind.

[top fuel]

So you post something knowing full well that you're going to get a bad reaction. Good one. Very imature considering you are a 52/53 year old with a Renault Scenic...

If Jordan/Caine think they're going to win then let them think that. It's not exactly unrealistic seeing as the car is almost exactly the same spec as the 2004 champions.

I would rather see 5 porsches all challenging the Ferrari's/TVRs/Corvettes/Ultima for race wins than seeing people try and develop road cars and spend more money, and not be able afford to campaign the car when it eventually gets competitive.

I'm very aware that that view will not be shared, and I really have got to hand it to the people that have developed such vehicles (VX220, Noble M12, etc.) it's a very brave thing to do! I mean, I'm all for variety, but I'd rather see 15 cars all the same actually racing for a win than a very pretty prosession of different cars. If I wanted to see that I'll take a trip to South Kensington.

>> Edited by top fuel on Friday 14th January 15:39

[zebedee]

15 cars all the same is a procession, even if they are battling hard it will become dull over an hour, let alone a season. We will have plenty of variety this year, and great inter-marque competition so we will have the best of both worlds (and no Clios/Scenics/Golfs)

[top fuel]

That's your opinion.

F3000 - That is long, single car rqacing, very good indeed. And Caterhams/Porsche SuperCup, granted not 1 hour, but Still fantastic single type racing.

My 2 cents. I'm done.

[GrahamG]

Well either way it looks like you'll be seeing bigger grids with plenty of variety in Brit GTs this year in both classes.

It could just be a vintage season!

[B 7 VP]

Not forgetting --Hawthornes Motorsport Team with Rod Barrett and Jan persson and their ZMCoupe .Variety is the spice of life.Good luck to all the Teams, from the Z3MCoupe Forum Boys.

[GrahamG]

There MIGHT be more than one Beemer too!

[top fuel]

GrahamG said:

There MIGHT be more than one Beemer too!

An M3??? actually, are they in the new "GT1" e.g. 550M/Saleen Class (I get confused)

[caro]

It will be interesting to see Caine and Jordan as a team - they have given me some fantastic entertainment racing each other in the past in both Tuscans and GTs, paired up they should be formiddable!

[Larco]

Seems to be plenty to entertain this year.
Can anybody list which teams are running which cars this year.

>> Edited by Larco on Tuesday 18th January 21:17

[c6erb]

The reason MC accepted the drive is that TVR do not have a factory car for him to drive in 2005.

[Rob974y]

Hello all,

I've read the posts on this website for a while now and thought i would join and have my two penith worth

I went to 6 bgt races (weekends) last season and i thought it was brilliant, i think the selection of cars on show was superb and also how competitive it was on the track, great fun to watch.

I am fan of Mike Jordan and have had the pleasure of breifly speaking to him at various races and I think you will find that the 'new' porsche in question isn't actually the porsche that mike raced in last years bgt, it is newer car that he used for selective fia gt races, one at donnington and one at silverstone, they look very simiar but are not the same cars

I maybe wrong

[GrahamG]

Rob you're correct - The 2005 car should be rather quicker than the 04 GT3RS and it will have several other quick cars to keep it company - Gents I'd make lans to catch a race or two this year I seriously think we're in for a cracker.

[top fuel]

Rob974y said:

...I think you will find that the 'new' porsche in question isn't actually the porsche that mike raced in last years bgt, it is newer car that he used for selective fia gt races, one at donnington and one at silverstone, they look very simiar but are not the same cars.

top fuel said:

It's not just "Another Porsche" it's a 911 RSR which they raced in the FIA GTs last year...