Rawdon's Sam Tordoff is celebrating a successful first British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season, taking sixth place overall out of 40 drivers, which was enough to make him the top ‘rookie’ driver.

The 24-year-old Leeds racer finished the season in style, recording podium finishes in the first two races at Brands Hatch last weekend.

He has enjoyed an impressive debut campaign, with six podiums, one pole position start and three fastest laps since he made his bow for the MG KX Momentum Team in March this year, including picking up his debut BTCC win Snetterton in August.

“It’s been a fantastic first season, I’ve learnt so much and I’m proud to have finished in sixth place as the top rookie,” said Sam.

“I have held my position in the Championship from less than halfway through the season too, which is a great confidence boost and shows that both the car and my drives had been relatively consistent, and I look forward to building on that record in the future.

“I was disappointed to have been run off the track by another car in the final event last weekend; I am convinced that I would have been able to get on to the podium at least – maybe even have won.

“It was a shame, because it had been a strong weekend for us. We have sorted out our wet performance and the car is good wet and dry now, which is an encouraging sign. I have really enjoyed my first season in the BTCC and I feel I can walk away with my head held high.”

Team principal Ian Harrison also credited the team after the successful weekend. He thought the overall performance was strong and it means the team is looking forward to next year’s campaign.

Tordoff splits his time between racing and working at his family’s Bradford-based JCT600 car retail business.

He is following in the footsteps of his grandfather Jack Tordoff, who competed in professional rallying in the 1960s and 1970s.