Sam Tordoff

Sam Tordoff is a British racing driver who currently competes in the British Touring Car Championship, driving a Honda Civic Type R. Tordoff made a debut in the BTCC in 2010, finishing as the vice-champion in 2016.

In 2017, he spent one season in the British GT Championship. Earlier in a career, Tordoff spent two seasons in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and two seasons in the Renault Clio Cup UK.

Sam Tordoff

A grandson of rally driver started a career in karting

Born in April 1989 in Bradford, as a grandson of former rally driver Jack Tordoff, Samuel Lewis Tordoff spent his teenage years in karting competitions, gaining some success in the national championship.

In 2009, he graduated to car racing, entering the Renault Clio Cup UK. Driving for Total Control Racing, he scored one victory in his debut season to finish 8th in the final standings. Next year, Tordoff was on a podium twelve times in 18 races, including two wins, finishing third in the points, behind Dave Newsham and Lee Pattison.

In 2010, he also made a BTCC debut in the last round of the season at Brands Hatch, driving the #16 Vauxhall Vectra for Uniq Racing with Triple Eight. He scored one championship points with the tenth place in the third race.

Sam Tordoff spent two seasons in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB

Two seasons in the Porsche Carrera Cup

In 2011, Tordoff didn't continue his career in the BTCC, switching to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB instead. He joined Team Parker Racing to drive the #44 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. His best result in nineteen races was the third place at Nurburgring. Outside British Carrera Cup, he made one start in Silverstone's round of the Porsche Supercup.

In 2012, Tordoff improved his results in the Carrera Cup, driving the #7 Porsche. He was a race winner four times, finishing third in the points behind Michael Meadows and Ben Barker.

Tordoff was driving MG for two seasons

Two BTCC seasons with Triple Eight Racing

In 2013, Tordoff left Carrera Cup and returned to the BTCC as MG factory driver in the MG KX Momentum Racing, operated by Triple Eight Racing. He was driving the #88 MG6 GT alongside Jason Plato as his teammate in the #99 car. Tordoff claimed his first BTCC podium finish in the third race of the season at Brands Hatch and then his maiden BTCC win in the sixth round at Snetterton. He finished 6th in the final standings, three places behind Plato.

Tordoff remained with MG/Triple Eight in 2014, scoring again one victory. This time, he won at Donington Park and finished seventh in the points at the end of the season.

Sam Tordoff joined West Surrey Racing in 2015

Two BTCC wins in the first season with BMW

In 2015, Tordoff joined West Surrey Racing which was running BMW among constructors entries in the BTCC. He was driving the #7 BMW 125i M Sport for Team JCT600 with GardX, together with Rob Collard as a teammate in the #6 car.

Tordoff was a race winner two times, at Oulton Park and Croft, to finish sixth in the championship points. BMW was third among Constructors and his team was fourth among teams.

In 2015, Tordoff also joined JMW Motorsport in three races of the European Le Mans Series, driving the #66 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 at Silverstone, Imola and Red Bull Ring as a co-driver to Robert Smith and George Richardson. His best result was the second place at Silverstone.

Sam Tordoff in 2016

BTCC vice-champion in 2016

In 2016, Tordoff stayed with WSR and BMW, changing his number on a car to #600. He was in the championship lead for most of the season, winning two races at Oulton Park and Rockingham and adding seven more podiums.

He entered the season's finale at Brands Hatch as a leader but he scored no podiums or wins and finished second in the points, behind Gordon Shedden.

One season in GT racing

In 2017, Tordoff left BTCC and tried GT racing, competing in the British GT Championship and Blancpain GT Series. In the national championship, he was driving the #6 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 for Barwell Motorsport, sharing a car with Liam Griffin. With four podiums in ten races, they were fourth in the championship standings.

In the Blancpain GT Series, Tordoff participated in the Endurance Cup with Strakka Racing, driving a McLaren 650S GT3. In five races, he scored no points and left the championship unclassified in the overall standings.

Sam Tordoff's #600 Ford Focus RS in 2018

Return to BTCC in 2018

After just one year out of BTCC, Tordoff returned to the most popular British championship in 2018. He joined Motorbase Performance to drive the #600 Ford Focus RS under the banner of Team GardX Racing. His Motorbase teammates were Tom Chilton and James Cole. After scoring two podiums, including a victory at Silverstone, he finished 11th in the points.

In 2019, Tordoff changed a team again, joining Cobra Sport AmD AutiAid/RCIB Insurance to drive the #600 Honda Civic Type R. He reached three podiums and then won a race at Thruxton. Unfortunately, after the tragic death of his son, he pulled out from the championship and skipped the last three rounds.

Sam Tordoff's #600 Honda Civic Type R

Photos: Sam Tordoff,