SAM Tordoff has moved from one Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) big gun to another.

The 25-year-old from Rawdon, who has had two successful years at MG in tandem with Jason Plato, is joining reigning champions and multiple winners West Surrey Racing for the 2015 season.

Tordoff scored two BTCC victories at MG but also had four pole positions and a total of 12 podium finishes.

Prior to his involvement in the BTCC, Tordoff experienced front-running campaigns in the Renault Clio Cup UK and Porsche Carrera Cup GB.

He will drive a WSR-built, developed and run BMW 125i M Sport in 2015, and is the first of three racers to be announced by the team as the squad will again run a trio of BMWs in the high-level tin-top series.

"I am delighted to be joining WSR," said Tordoff. "The team has won four different titles in 2014 – including Colin Turkington's drivers' championship – so I believe I am joining the best team on the grid.

He added: "I've got to know some of the team already, and the work ethic at WSR fits perfectly with mine.

"They're an extremely professional outfit that plan meticulously to win, so I can't wait to get started.

"I've had two good seasons in the BTCC but now is the time for me to mount a championship challenge and I feel I'm now at the best place to do exactly that."

WSR team principal Dick Bennetts said: "We've watched Sam's development closely over the last few years and he's progressed extremely well in the BTCC.

"I have enjoyed working with emerging talents throughout my career and we believe Sam has the ability to become a champion in the future.

"Everyone in the team is delighted with his signing and we welcome him to West Surrey Racing, where we hope together we can enjoy great success."

Tordoff still works at his family's Bradford-based JCT600 car retailer business and is following in the footsteps of his rally driving grandfather Jack, who competed professionally in the 1960s and 1970s.