ALL EYES ON DONINGTON PARK

ALL EYES ON DONINGTON PARK FOR BTCC EASTER WEEKEND

COLIN TURKINGTON AND TEAM BMW KEEN TO KEEP PUSHING

The next instalment of the British Touring Car Championship takes place this Easter weekend only a fortnight after the gripping action kicked off with Rounds 1, 2 and 3.

It would have been impossible to predict the challenges faced by various drivers and teams at the opening event, as title favourites made contact in unusual circumstances, and the weather played games with qualifying.

There was drama up and down the paddock until the very last lap of the last race, and none more so than with Team BMW and Colin Turkington.

Recap on the exciting opening rounds at Brands Hatch here.

CONTINUED DEPTH OF PREPARATION FROM TEAM BMW

Turkington and Team BMW have been carrying out a thorough analysis since returning home from the Kent circuit, working to ensure the continued performance and reliability of the BMW 1 series around the high speed Donington Park circuit.

Hoping to extract all that he can from the weekend is Double Champ Colin Turkington.  The BMW driver is looking forward to racing the 1 series once more in a few days time; a formidable prospect that should ensure more thrilling excitement for the Turkington fans. Showing an ever increasing hunger, Colin appears well at home in his new team.“Never was my focus more important than on the opening race of the opening event last weekend.  I’m satisfied with myself that I was able to rescue a potentially disastrous weekend.  But it’s now important to take what we have learnt from those two races and move on.  I am concentrating on once again presenting myself and my preparation to the best of my ability for when we arrive at Donington Park.

Being sat on the sidelines for race 1 at Brands was not part of the plan but it stoked up the fire in my belly.  I want this more than ever.

It is fantastic to be back with West Surrey Racing and Team BMW, and I am keen to reward their hard efforts of late with a strong set of results.  It was no easy feat for them to complete the three engine installations on the mouth of Brands Hatch and they performed an immaculate job.

I really enjoyed testing the 1 series pre-season but there is no better feeling than racing it.  I have made sure to capture that feeling and am looking forward to doing much more of the same at Donington Park.”

BRANDS HATCH IN PICTURES

You can see the full album from the opening race weekend here.

BTCC RACE WEEKEND SCHEDULE

SATURDAY
Free practice 1 – 9.30am
Free practice 2 – 12.25pm
Qualifying – 3.40pm
CLICK HERE FOR LIVE TIMING
CLICK HERE TO WATCH ONLINESUNDAY
Race 1 – 11.37am
Race 2 – 2.37pm
Race 3 – 5.22pm
LIVE ON ITV4
ITV4 coverage from 10.45amDONINGTON PARK
Distance: 1.98 miles
Qualifying record: Jason Plato 2014 / 1:09.460s
Race record: Gordon Shedden 2015 / 1:09.741sThe BTCC has become a regular at the Derby circuit over Easter.  With sweeping corners and a blistering fast back section, the circuit provides plenty of action and now has even bigger and better spectator areas.

OPTION TYRE: HARD COMPOUND

One variable for Donington Park will be the Dunlop hard option tyre that each driver has to run for one of Sunday’s three races.  Previously only used at Thruxton and Rockingham, 2017 has seen a change in the format of the option tyre.  The hard compound tyre must now be nominated for one race at Donington, Croft, Rockingham and Silverstone.  This will be a step into the unknown for most but will surely add further spice into the mix.

The Dunlop ‘Sport Maxx Soft’ will continue to be the option tyre for Brands Hatch, Oulton Park, Snetterton and Knockhill.

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