SAM Tordoff will have some 'in-house' help when it comes to sponsorship this season.

GardX and his employers JCT600 are joint team sponsors of West Surrey Racing (WSR), who Tordoff and Rob Collard will drive for in the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).

Their BMWs will drive under the Team JCT600 with GardX banner, while three-time World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx will drive a third WSR-run BMW 1 Series in the championship.

WSR – one of the world’s leading touring car teams – took a clean sweep of BTCC titles in 2014, culminating in a quartet of trophies and, far from resting on their laurels, have continued to test and develop their machines over the winter in preparation for their title defence.

Both JCT600 and GardX have a long association with motorsport.

JCT600 founder, Jack Tordoff – Sam's grandfather – was a successful international rally driver in the 1960s and 1970s, winning the Circuit of Ireland Rally in his Porsche 911 Carrera RS in 1973.

Sam is now following firmly in his footsteps, having cut a rapid ascent through the motor racing ranks.

From karting through to race-winning campaigns in both the UK Renault Clio Cup and Porsche Carrera Cup GB, Sam’s cars have always carried both the JCT600 and GardX logos.

That tradition continued in his first two seasons in Britain’s premier series, the BTCC, where the Yorkshireman claimed two victories.

Now making his move to the most successful team on last year’s grid, and with the continued support of JCT600 and GardX, Tordoff believes he is in the best possible position to contend for a maiden tin-top title.

He said: “I am absolutely delighted to have joined WSR and to be continuing my long-term partnership with JCT600 and GardX.

“We have already had many great times together – including a number of victories – but this is by far our biggest and most exciting challenge yet. "We have proved we can achieve great things, and my career would simply not be possible without their support. Now I am racing for the best team to compliment my already outstanding partners and I can’t wait to get the season underway.”

Apperley-Bridge based JCT600 are one of the UK’s most highly respected motor retailers, with 50 dealerships across the north of England and have represented the BMW brand in Yorkshire since 1978.

GardX are the sole supplier of vehicle protection systems to JCT600, providing exterior and interior protection solutions on all retail vehicles sold.

John Tordoff, JCT600's chief executive, explained: “JCT600 has a long and successful history in both motor retail and motor sport. For us, the two go hand in hand.

"Our joint sponsorship of the West Surrey Racing British Touring Car team for 2015 gives us a great platform to increase our exposure as a BMW retailer, while also being associated with a highly respected, race and championship winning team.

"Just like JCT600, WSR like to win! We couldn’t have put this deal together without the support of GardX and we are all looking forward to the season ahead.”

Tordoff tested his BMW 125i M Sport at Donington Park this week, achieving the tenth-fastest time at the Leicestershire circuit ahead of his first outing at Brands Hatch in just over a week

He tested 58 laps with a fastest time of 1min 10.985sec with a top speed of 130mph. Team-mates Collard and Priaulx were 16th and 21st respectively.