In the pipeline
APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION How Pirtek supports the rough, tough world of demolition.
SPECIALOFFERS VISIT YOUR LOCAL PIRTEK CENTRE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
DKH-1 Duraklix High Pressure, Quick Release Coupling Set (M/F) € € 13.03
PIR-2605 3600 PSI 100Oc 05 Heavy Duty Turbo Nozzle 1/4F € € 28.26
PIR-1805 2500 PSI 100Oc 05 Industrial Turbo Nozzle 1/4F € € 24.22
PIR-238 3/8M X 3/8F Heavy Duty - Brass € 8.82
PIR-R20MHP 20M Retractable High Pressure Hose Reel - 270 Bar, 110oC, 3/8F Inlet - No Hose. € 211.92
PIR-TDLN Trigger + Double Lance + Nozzles Kit € 71.25
KIT-I Nitrile 70 Imperial O’Ring Kit € 8.18 KIT-I N90 Nitrile 90 Imerial O’Ring Kit € 14.45 KIT-I V75 Viton 75 Imperial O’Ring Kit € 54.44
KIT-M Nitrile 70 Metric O’Ring Kit € 8.18 KIT-M N90 Nitrile 90 Metric O’Ring Kit € 14.45 KIT-M V75 Viton 75 Metric O’Ring Kit € 59.90
BSK-01 Imperial Bonded Washer Kit € 15.91
BSK-02 Metric Bonded Washer Kit € 16.27 BSK-03 Metric Bonded Washer Kit € 16.27
KIT-CAT-D CAT D Ring Kit € 30.81
RG-1 O’Ring Gauge € 24.54
OUR SPECIAL OFFERS ARE VALID FROM 1 st JANUARY 2017 – 31 st MARCH 2017
UK 0800 38 24 38 ROI 1800 74 78 35 www.pirtek.eu
KEEPING IT FRESH Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future. John F. Kennedy
The old adage “if you’re not moving forwards, you’re falling behind” is one that is close to our hearts here at Pirtek. It is this desire to stay ahead of the curve that drives the business. It is why, despite having the UK’s largest network of dedicated Hose Centres, we’re not yet satisfied. It is why, even though we offer customers more than 18,000 products, we are constantly seeking more. It is why we have invested in a customer relationship management system that would be the envy of any blue chip company in the world. It is why we pioneered the use of a mobile app to put our customers in touch faster and why our website is constantly evolving and updating. And it is why we have decided to give In the Pipeline a much-needed makeover. The magazine still features the high quality editorial content you have come to expect but it is presented in a fresh, modern way that we hope you will appreciate. Rather
than bombard you with dozens of photos, our editorial team are choosing one or two of the very best for each story to help make the reading experience more enjoyable. In addition, we have added a new section called Feedback in which we share some of the notable achievements of our national network, many of them submitted by you… our readers. Also embracing the new is our Pirtek Racing team which is revving up for the 2017 British Touring Car Championship season. As you will see on Page 00, we have a new car and a new livery to look out for; and we have high hopes for Andrew Jordan and the team in what promises to be a hotly-contested season. We sincerely hope that you will embrace the changes we have made. We do not subscribe to the theory of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” . Instead, we prefer “if it is broke, call Pirtek” .
NEWS PIRTEK MAKES A DATE WITH CHARITY Pirtek UK, the leading Fluid Transfer Solutions provider, has channelled the “Calendar Girls” to create a truly unique new 2017 calendar whilst raising £10,000 for the Prostate Cancer UK charity. The Pirtek calendar has become a mainstay of offices and workshops up and down the land. But those receiving this year’s calendar will have noticed something of a departure from the norm. “The Pirtek calendar has
Brave Volunteers Argent-Peters reports that the initial idea came about in an internal meeting at Pirtek’s Acton headquarters. “We thought it would be a good idea do to charity calendar similar to the one from the movie ‘Calendar Girls’ but using staff from the Pirtek network. Daniel
traditionally featured a Pirtek girl on one side and either a Pirtek van or the Pirtek Racing BTCC car on the reverse,” says marketing manager Tammie Argent-Peters. “But this year, we decided to do something a bit different.”
Andrew Jordan. “Prostate Cancer UK does some incredible work to promote and safeguard men’s health,” he says. “I was only too happy to take part in the project and I am delighted that my friends at Pirtek invited me along.” “Despite it not being everyone’s cup of tea in what is ostensibly a male-dominated industry, the calendar has been very well received and has raised a lot of money for a very worthwhile charity,” Tammie Argent-Peters concludes. “It was not an easy thing to do but we are enor- mously proud of everyone that took part.”
Peters from Pirtek Ashford (who is also on the committee) immediately volunteered,” she recalls. “I then contacted centres and staff in the network to ask if they would like to take part, and Pirtek Racing BTCC driver Andrew Jordan who also agreed immediately.” Despite the prospect of being naked in a draughty Pirtek Centre, Argent-Peters ultimately persuaded seven volunteers to shed their inhibitions (and their clothes): Daniel Peters, licensee at Pirtek Ashford; Pirtek Racing driver Andrew Jordan; Jon Oswald, Pirtek UK Network Support Manager; Scott Synclaire, MSST at Pirtek Park Royal; Serkan Algan, Pirtek UK European Procurement & Technical Manager; Grant Petrie, Pirtek UK Sales Development Manager for the Scotland Region; and Pirtek UK Management Accountant Craig Stamp. “The first stage of the shoot took place at Pirtek Ashford on a cold rainy day. But I arrived armed with a make-up artist, photographer and a head full of ideas for various poses and shots. At first the boys were a little shy but once we got the first image out of the way they got into the swing of it. They were all naturals,” Argent- Peters recounts. “We were all treated to a fish and chips lunch by Daniel Peters and then our models were relieved of their duties late afternoon.” Day two took the team to Pirtek Leyton in the morning where they shocked a few people on-site at GBN Services
whilst taking shots of Grant Petrie on a piece of machinery that was in the workshop for maintenance. The two-day shoot concluded with visits to Pirtek Leyton and Pirtek Park Royal. Charity Fund The calendars have been on sale to the 80+ Pirtek UK Centres and to customers in the UK and Ireland. To date, more than 5,500 calendars have been sold, raising just under £5,000 for Prostate Cancer UK, a charity that Pirtek has supported for several years. The company’s recently- appointed CEO Alex McNutt
agreed that Pirtek UK would match and make up the amount raised so the light- hearted calendar will contribute £10,000 to the charity fund. “We operate across a number of male- dominated industry sectors,” explains Alistair Wiggins, joint managing director of Pirtek UK. “So it seems appropriate that we should support a charity that does so much to promote men’s health.” This view is echoed by BTCC racing star and calendar-shoot participant
FEEDBACK The primary purpose of In the Pipeline is, of course, to share good news stories and positivity from across the Pirtek UK network of 80+ dedicated Hose Centres. But, in truth, the best news often comes not from these pages but from the Centres themselves and from the customers they serve. In this new section of In the Pipeline, we have gathered together just some of that positive feedback:
Decade of Dedication Congratulations to Carl Reynolds (cen- tre) of Pirtek Worcester who recently received his 10 years’ service award from licensee Jason Woods (left) and Alistair Wiggins of Pirtek UK. Well done Carl and thank you for your decade of dedication.
Lighting the Way With the dark nights setting in, Pirtek UK recently held an internal competition among its centres to see who could sell the most Pirtek-branded LED work lights. And the results were truly illuminating! Mick Dewhurst of Pirtek Preston and Owen Hessing of Pirtek Ashford each won an Autoglym car valet kit for their efforts.
Sharpes Practice
Doing what your customers expect is part and parcel of being a successful supplier. But doing more than they expect is what marks some suppliers as truly special. Just ask flourishing coach company Sharpes of Nottingham about their relationship with Pirtek Nottingham. It’s a Friday evening and you’re on your way to a heritage coach festival when one of the prize coaches you’re planning to display develops a hydraulic hose fault. Your preferred supplier is more than a hundred miles up the M1 and the rush hour traffic is starting to build up. What do you do? Well, if you’re Neil Sharpe of Sharpes of Nottingham, you call your supplier – Pirtek Nottingham – just the same; because experience tells you that circumnavigating some of the UK’s worst motorway traffic is all in a day’s work for the Fluid Transfer Solutions provider.
“I called Pirtek Nottingham and explained our predicament. I wasn’t surprised when they said they could help,” managing director and one of the company’s founders explains. “What did surprise me was the way in which they came to our rescue.” That rescue came in the shape of Pirtek Nottingham Licensee Steve Maguire who collected the required part and drove it down the M1 at the height of the rush hour. “That kind of service goes above and beyond the average supplier but it is typical of Steve
and the team at Pirtek Nottingham,” Sharpe asserts. Sharpes of Nottingham splits its impressive fleet in two: a traditional hire fleet; and a labour-of-love heritage fleet. The hire fleet comprises 18 vehicles and includes some stunning executive and club class coaches. One of the latest vehicles to join the company fleet is a Van Hool TDX21 Altano. This vehicle has the flexibility to accommodate up to 70 passengers in normal configuration, or in “Club Class” mode comfortably accommodate 60 passengers with five table arrangements. Upholstered in beautiful leathers, the seating has been designed with supreme comfort in mind, with reclining action, footrests, and integral tables. Each Passenger has a Personal Service Unit (PSU), providing individual climate control, reading and night lighting. The Van Hool TDX21 Altano also has the facility to accommodate one wheelchair passenger, with access from the pavement by way of a demountable ramp through the front entrance door. Equally impressive – though for different reasons – are the company’s Platinum TX27 Astromegas, double-decker coaches that can seat up to 83 passengers comfortably. The heritage fleet comprises 12 vehicles including the jewel in the company’s crown; a 1973 AEC 760 Plaxton Panarama Elite III. The stunning coach was supplied new to C G Littlewoods of Sheffield before being owned and operated by Lamcote Coaches, a company that the Sharpe’s family had links with for many years. The previous owner Fowlers of Holbeach, had owned it for over 20 years, the last eight of which saw the coach in storage. During 2012, Sharpe of Nottingham
commissioned a full restoration of both the interior and exterior, returning it to its full 1970s glory. The hire and the heritage fleet place very specific demands on the company’s own maintenance team and – by extension – on Pirtek Nottingham. “For the hire fleet, preventive maintenance is the key. These vehicles are only earning money and achieving customer satisfaction while they are running efficiently,” Neil Sharpe explains. “So each coach is checked regularly and potential faults are fixed before they turn into downtime.” The award-winning heritage fleet requires similar levels of care but places additional demands on the team at Pirtek. “The age of some of the heritage coaches means that spare parts are not readily available off-the-shelf, and we often call upon Pirtek Nottingham to manufacture replacement parts that we cannot source ourselves,” he says. “In addition, heritage coach competitions are extremely exacting. They’re like beauty pageants. The coaches are not judged solely on how they run but also how they look. So all the parts and hoses Pirtek supplies have to look right too.” With its range of diverse and exacting requirements, Sharpes of Nottingham could easily be a demanding customer. Instead, Neil Sharpe and Pirtek Nottingham’s Steve Maguire share a relationship that is based on trust and friendship. “It is not unusual for Steve to call in to our depot on his way to work or to drop by on his way home, just to make sure that we have everything we need,” Neil Sharpe concludes. “But even by Steve’s usual high standards, braving the M1 on a Friday night really went above and beyond the call of duty.”
New Look, New Season Fans of British Touring Car Championship star Andrew Jordan have several months to wait to see if he can once again claim the championship crown. But in the race for the best-looking car on the grid for the 2017 season, Jordan has already left rivals in his wake.
again stand out from the crowd on track after the decision was taken to retain the stunning chrome appearance that proved to be universally popular last year as Andrew secured the Independents’ title for the third time. Having shown off his steed in front of a bumper crowd in Birmingham, Andrew will now continue to prepare for the next phase of his winter testing programme, which is due to get underway next month. The 27-year-old has already enjoyed three successful days on track in the BMW prior to Christmas. “I don’t think there is any doubt that the Pirtek Racing BMW will be the best looking car on the BTCC grid this season,” he said. “The chrome blue really stood out on track last
Pirtek Racing has revealed the stunning livery that will adorn the BMW 125i M Sport of Andrew Jordan for the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season. The unveiling of the West Surrey Racing- run BMW was one of the main draws on the opening day of the annual Autosport International Show at the NEC in Birmingham, with the car taking pride of place on the Dunlop BTCC stand.
The iconic Pirtek Racing colours will once
Andrew’s 2017 campaign gets underway at Brands Hatch on the weekend of 1-2 April.
year, but I think it looks even better on the 1 Series. The Pirtek Racing colours and the BMW are just a great fit; they complement each other perfectly. “Since the testing we did prior to Christmas, the team has been hard at work on making improvements to what was already an extremely good car and I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel when we return to the track next month.
Hatch on the weekend of 1-2 April.
“We want to make sure that when we get to Brands Hatch for the season opener, we are challenging for pole position and race wins. If the Pirtek Racing BMW goes even half as well as it looks, then we’ll certainly be firmly in the mix at the front of the pack.”
improvements to what was already an extremely good car and I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel when we return to the track next month. “We want to make sure that when we get to Brands Hatch for the season opener, we are challenging for pole position and race wins. If the Pirtek Racing BMW goes even half as well as it looks, then we’ll certainly be firmly in the mix at the front of the pack.”
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Andrew’s 2017 campaign gets underway at Brands
INDUSTRY FOCUS
Appetite for Destruction In the first of our new Industry Focus features, we look at how Pirtek is supporting the rough, tough world of demolition.
To the layman, demolition is just pure destruction. It is explosives, wrecking balls and great piles of debris. Nothing could be further from the truth. The modern world of demolition is one of precision and engineering. The use of explosives – in the UK at least – is something of a rarity (which is probably why it makes the news headlines when it does happen). A wrecking ball probably hasn’t been swung at a structure in the UK for more than a decade. And as for debris, the UK demolition sets a global standard for recycling and reuse of materials with many achieving recycling rates of 98 percent or more. But for all that precision, demolition remains a hostile environment for the equipment used to bring down structures and to process the arisings. That is why Pirtek has placed such emphasis on supporting this highly specialised industry sector. Getting Attached The once ubiquitous wrecking ball has been almost entirely replaced by the advent of high reach and standard sized excavators all equipped with a multitude of hydraulically-actuated attachments and kitted out to withstand the harsh demolition application. But virtually everything tool in the modern demolition man’s armoury requires hydraulics. And with hydraulics comes hoses that require care, attention and replacement. Throw into the mix the gradual adoption of hydraulic quick couplers such as the OilQuick or Lehnhoff systems, and it is easy to see why most UK demolition contractors have their local Pirtek centre on speed dial. Yet there is much more to the relationship between the demolition contractor and its local Pirtek outlet; one that reflects the modern and forward- thinking nature of the demolition sector.
In an application where a high reach excavator is the prime mover, everything on that site hinges upon the uptime of that main machine. If it fails, the support machines, crushers, screen, haulage trucks and – more importantly – the men and women on site all stop. To help prevent this, many of the UK’s more forward- thinking contractors are investing in Pirtek’s Total Hose Management system. As part of this system, all hoses on a machine (or a fleet of machines) are inspected regularly, and damaged and worn hoses are replaced before they fail. In addition, all hoses are tagged with a unique Pirtek number that allows a replacement hose to be identified, sourced and delivered quickly.
“The nature of demolition means that crews are often working a long way from their home base and a familiar Pirtek centre. By having the app on their mobile device, site personnel have instant access to the most convenient Pirtek centre at the press of a button. The app utilises a smartphone’s GPS capabilities to identify exactly where a customer is and then recommend which of our Hose Centres across the UK and Ireland is closest,” explains Pirtek UK Managing Director (South), Alistair Wiggins. “The app automatically forwards the customer’s precise GPS location to the Centre and to the MSST, allowing them to respond even more quickly and efficiently.” Belt and Braces In extreme cases, Pirtek will go even further to help ensure the on- time completion of a time-reliant demolition contract. Nowhere is this more popular than during the demolition of a road or railway bridge which are often conducted during an overnight or weekend- long “possession”. “A demolition contractor might have 12, 24 or 48 hours in which to take down a bridge, remove the debris, and re-open the road or railway below,” Pirtek’s Managing Director (North) Paul Dunlop continues. “These possessions – which are often carried out in conjunction with the Highways Agency or a major rail company – carry huge financial penalties if the road or railway remains closed for longer than the allotted time. Breakdowns are simply not an option.” Midlands-based Armac Group – known throughout the industry as “the bridge busters” – take a belt and braces approach to such overnight possessions. If a job requires two excavators, Armac
Backed by Pirtek’s well-known “Anytime. Anywhere. ETA One hour” service promise, this helps keep downtime to an absolute minimum, providing peace of mind to the demolition contractor and helping them avoid the late completion penalties that are becoming increasingly common across the sector. Rapid Response Of course, prevention is always preferable to cure. But the nature of the demolition environment does not always afford such luxuries. Although equipment and attachment manufacturers have grown increasingly adept at routing hydraulic hoses within their products for added protection, the presence of highly abrasive bricks and concrete and steel reinforcing bar upon which to get snagged means that hydraulic hose failures are a constant threat that pretty much goes with the job. With this in mind, Pirtek has developed an easy-to- navigate app for both iOS and Android devices to allow site personnel to contact the nearest Pirtek centre quickly and seamlessly.
takes four, just in case. As if that were not enough contingency for one or two nights’ work, Armac goes a step further. During the demolition of a motorway bridge over the M1, the company was faced with late completion penalties of £18,000 per hour. The company assembled what is believed to be the largest ever fleet of demolition fire power for a bridge demolition comprising 14 hydraulic excavators ranging from 70 to 50 tonnes; two 7 tonne hydraulic breakers; four 6 tonne breakers; six 4 tonne beakers; four 6 tonne pulverisers; four 4 tonne hydraulic processors; two 7 tonne shears; and a fleet of 12 x 40 tonne payload dumptrucks. “I knew we would have a lot of machinery on site, and it all had to work all the time we were operating. And one of the most obvious causes of non-scheduled downtime is a hydraulic failure or damage to a hydraulic part,” explains Armac’s operations manager Matt Right. “So I arranged for Pirtek Birmingham to provide cover for the entire
time we were operating at Catthorpe. They provided two vans with MSSTs working 12 hour shifts from 8pm Friday evening, during the set up period, right through to Sunday morning when we were clearing up.” Having called upon Pirtek Birmingham’s support on previous bridge demolition projects, Right says he knew what to expect. But even he admits to having been genuinely impressed by the level of commitment shown on the Catthorpe contract. “Pirtek have helped us standardise the hydraulic hoses and fittings on our excavators in the past. This meant that any repairs would be quick and efficient. There was a lot of forward planning and the Pirtek engineers were all briefed and inducted on site so everything ran like clockwork. They became part of our team and were very proactive, even helping to change excavator attachments to help us save time,” Right concludes. “I can honestly say hats off to Pirtek, they did a very professional job, and Skanska and the Highways Agency were chuffed to bits that it all went to schedule.”
Putting the Customer First It is 24 years since Pirtek Swindon became the 16th Pirtek Centre to open its doors in the UK. Today, the original Licensee – Andy Edwards and his team – continues to provide an impeccable service to customers across Wiltshire and now also in Somerset.
that”. Meanwhile, in Swindon, Licensee Andy Edwards – ably assisted by wife Kay - is about to open the doors of the UK’s 16th Pirtek Centre for the first time. In the intervening 24 years, Andy and Kay Edwards and their team have seen the arrival of three more US presidents (and five British prime ministers); seen the Jurassic Park franchise rebooted; and ridden out two recessions to become one of the UK’s longest- serving, most-established, and most-respected Pirtek Centres.
The year is 1993. Bill Clinton has just been sworn in as the 42nd President of the United States. Movie-goers are flocking to see Jurassic Park and Schindler’s List. The FBI is laying siege to a compound of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas. And Meatloaf has the world guessing what precisely he is so against with his chart-topping song “I would do anything for love. But I won’t do
Built along familiar Pirtek lines, Pirtek Swindon has also branched out and diversified
to become a recognised expert in the manufacture, supply and installation of highly specialised brake hoses for the rail industry. And as if that application were not sufficiently demanding and rigorous, Pirtek Swindon has been working for the Armed Forces at Salisbury Plain for the past few years, supplying hoses to some of the most exacting standards imaginable. Andy Edwards is welcoming, affable and modest. But when asked for the secret of his 24 years (and counting) success, his response is rapid and laser focused. “Customer service and having the right team in place,” he says. “Customer service is at the heart of everything we do. From the day we opened our doors, we have had a policy that the customer is always right. We do not try to defend our mistakes. We do not duck when our mobile service vans arrive later than expected. Our entire team is honest and focused upon getting our customers problems resolved as quickly as possible.” That ethos is present in everything that Pirtek Swindon does. To satisfy the needs of its customers in the rail sector, Pirtek Swindon personnel have undergone specialist training to allow them to work trackside. The Centre now has seven mobile service vans on the road, each manned by a trained and qualified Mobile Sales and Service Technician (MSST) to ensure the fastest possible response to customer emergency calls. And the Centre has dedicated two members of staff – one based at the Centre; the other on the road – to satisfy the demands of the rail sector and the Armed Forces. “We are only ever as good as our last mistake,” Edwards asserts. “If we do a great job for a customer, they are unlikely to phone their friends and competitors to tell them just
how good we are. But if we let a customer down, that news spreads like wildfire. Everyone at Pirtek Swindon - from the MSSTs through the admin staff to the trade counter and workshop staff – know that the customer comes first.” It is a policy that has clearly worked. Not content with running the highly successful Pirtek Swindon Centre, Edwards and his team helped rescue the once ailing Pirtek Westbury Centre. That Centre is now owned by Edwards and is already beginning to benefit from his “customer first” approach. “Pirtek Westbury has enormous potential but we’re starting from a less than perfect position,” Edwards explains. “But we are slowly winning back customers that were let down in the past, and the Centre is very much on an upward trajectory.”
Perhaps the greatest compliment to the continued success of Edwards and his team
is that they have become the target of a “dirty tricks” campaign in which a competitor has attempted to undermine staff and customer confidence and morale by starting a scurrilous (and entirely false) rumour that Pirtek Swindon and Pirtek Westbury had fallen out of favour with Pirtek UK. “When I first heard about it, I was furious,” Edwards recalls. “But, with the benefit of hindsight, it is almost flattering. We have established such an excellent reputation that the only way that a rival can compete is through lies and deceit.” Unfortunately for that rival company, the dirty tricks campaign has truly backfired. Edwards says that the vicious rumours have galvanised his team to aim even higher. “Our team took
this very personally,” he says. “Like me, they live and breathe Pirtek and any attempt to undermine that will merely make us all work harder.” Thankfully, Pirtek Swindon and Pirtek Westbury customers have also been unmoved by the dirty tricks. “Our customers want their problems resolved quickly, efficiently, safely and cost-effectively. They are not interested in petty politics or what the rumour mill has to say,” Edwards concludes. “For almost a quarter of a century, we have consistently proven our commitment to our local customers and to the local community. It would take a lot more than a few rumours to undo what we have accomplished in the past 24 years.”
SPECIALOFFERS VISIT YOUR LOCAL PIRTEK CENTRE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
DKH-1 Duraklix High Pressure, Quick Release Coupling Set (M/F) £11.11
PIR-2605 3600 PSI 100Oc 05 Heavy Duty Turbo Nozzle 1/4F £24.09
PIR-1805 2500 PSI 100Oc 05 Industrial Turbo Nozzle 1/4F £20.65
PIR-238 3/8M X 3/8F Heavy Duty - Brass £7.52
PIR-R20MHP 20M Retractable High Pressure Hose Reel - 270 Bar, 110oC, 3/8F Inlet - No Hose. £180.70
PIR-TDLN Trigger + Double Lance + Nozzles Kit £60.75
KIT-I Nitrile 70 Imperial O’Ring Kit £6.98 KIT-I N90 Nitrile 90 Imerial O’Ring Kit £12.32 KIT-I V75 Viton 75 Imperial O’Ring Kit £46.42
KIT-M Nitrile 70 Metric O’Ring Kit £6.98 KIT-M N90 Nitrile 90 Metric O’Ring Kit £12.32 KIT-M V75 Viton 75 Metric O’Ring Kit £51.07
BSK-01 Imperial Bonded Washer Kit £13.56
BSK-02 Metric Bonded Washer Kit £13.87 BSK-03 Metric Bonded Washer Kit £13.87
KIT-CAT-D CAT D Ring Kit £26.27
RG-1 O’Ring Gauge £20.93
OUR SPECIAL OFFERS ARE VALID FROM 1 st JANUARY 2017 – 31 st MARCH 2017
UK 0800 38 24 38 ROI 1800 74 78 35 www.pirtek.eu
Ready for the Green Light
Pirtek Racing’s Andrew Jordan has his sights set on challenging for the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship title after confirming a deal to join multiple champions West Surrey Racing. The 27-year-old will help spearhead WSR’s assault
race made its series debut – and also clinching the Independents title three times, including in 2016. Jordan says he is now fully focused on securing a second overall title for Pirtek Racing with the switch to WSR; a team widely regarded as one of the best in British motorsport. Founded in the early 1980s by team principal Dick Bennetts, WSR enjoyed years of success in British F3 with famous names including Ayrton Senna, Mika Häkkinen and Rubens Barrichello before making the move into the BTCC; where it has gone on to run factory programmes for the likes of Ford, Honda and MG. Since 2007, the team has been synonymous with the BMW brand and has no fewer than a dozen BTCC titles to its name; including two overall drivers championships and the 2016 manufacturers’/ constructors’ crown.
“Once it became clear that I wouldn’t be staying with
on the championship title for the next two years after putting pen to paper on a deal for both the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Jordan will continue to do battle on track in the striking colours of long-term backers Pirtek, with the 2017 season marking the second year of the latest three-year deal between driver and sponsor. In fact, next season will mark the eighth successive campaign in which Andrew has run with title sponsorship from the UK’s number one provider of fluid transfer solutions - a partnership that is now firmly established as one of the most recognisable in Britain’s premier racing series. It is under the Pirtek Racing banner where Jordan has enjoyed his most successful years in the BTCC, taking the overall championship title in 2013 – coincidentally in the season the BMW 125i M Sport he will now
Motorbase for a second season, we considered the options that were available. After speaking to Dick Bennetts, there was no doubt in my mind that West Surrey Racing was where I wanted to be. WSR is a team that has enjoyed huge success in the past with some of the most famous names in motorsport, and my aim is to be part of the successes they still have to come,” Jordan says. “It was an incredibly easy deal to do and to have signed up for two years is fantastic not only for myself, but also for Pirtek and my other sponsors, as we know there is the continuity to build something special across the next two years. The opportunity to work closely with a brand like BMW is also extremely exciting and something I am looking forward to. It’s been clear to see in recent years how good the BMW package is and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel to start testing.”
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