TURKINGTON AIMING FOR THE FRONT

The second instalment of the 2019 British Touring Car Championship season is just days away as Donington Park gets set to host one of its biggest events of the season.  Following on from the wintry opening rounds at Brand Hatch, Colin Turkington and Team BMW are hoping for more predictable conditions at the Midlands circuit.

WETS OR SLICKS?

The cold and damp weather played havoc with strategies last time out and delivered eight different drivers to the podium.  Many key title protagonists who qualified well had their weekend hopes dashed by difficult tyre choices, as others took a gamble and came out trumps.  The 30 car grid seems as close as ever and the brilliant display of wheel-to-wheel action did not disappoint.

RECAP ON BRANDS HATCH HERE

WATCH THE RACES AGAIN HERE

POSITIVE STEPS FORWARD

Team BMW joined the rest of the BTCC grid at a sunny and dry test day last week giving triple Champion Colin Turkington a chance to make progress with his BMW 3 Series.  Making their way through a tailored test programme, Turkington and his engineer Dan Millard were able to make positive steps forward in adapting the car to a more ‘Turkington’ style.

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COLIN TURKINGTON

“Success requires a melting pot of many ingredients and you cannot expect things to always go your way.  What you must always have though, is the desire to put in the graft and make sacrifices.

I left Brands Hatch not feeling at one with the car but motivated about the potential we have. I really enjoyed being back in the groove and the shot of adrenaline from competing again has made me more determined than ever. 

I had a strong result in qualifying on Saturday but the weather rained on our parade on Sunday.  Nothing is a given and anything can happen … this is what we love and hate about the BTCC!

I feel we took a good step forward at the Thruxton test last week with the aim to get the 3 Series a bit more user friendly and more suited to my driving style. We’re moving in the right direction and I go to Donington with more confidence and a stronger base setup than I had at Brands Hatch.

Andrew proved what the 3 Series is capable of with his dominant win and despite Donington not being one of our strongest tracks in recent times, I think the circuit will play to the strengths of the 3 Series’ strong aerodynamics.

Arriving without success ballast and with a car more suited to my driving style I believe we can be challenging at the front. 

This weekend it’s all about scoring good points and edging our way up that Championship leader board.  The weather seems a little unpredictable at this stage but all we can hope for is slightly warmer and consistent conditions.”

DONINGTON PARK RACE WEEKEND SCHEDULE

WATCH LIVE ON ITV4

Showing on ITV4 this Sunday from 10:40am, Donington Park will be broadcast LIVE throughout the day!

ABOUT DONINGTON PARK

Circuit length: 1.98 miles
Qualifying record: J PLATO, 1:09.460s, 2014
Race record: G SHEDDEN, 1:09.741s, 2015

The BTCC grid will use the HARD tyre as the option tyre at Donington Park.  The drivers must choose one race to run the option tyre and make this choice before qualifying on Saturday.

BTCC 2019

The 2019 British Touring Car Championship kicked off at Brands Hatch at the beginning of April and will journey the UK over eight circuits throughout the season.  Each one of the 30 races will be screened live, for free and exclusively in HD on ITV4.

4,5,6     Sat 27/Sun 28 April    Donington Park
7,8,9    Sat 18/Sun 19 May    Thruxton
10,11,12    Sat 15/Sun 16 June    Croft
13,14,15    Sat 29/Sun 30 June    Oulton Park
16,17,18    Sat 3/Sun 4 August    Snetterton
19,20,21    Sat 17/Sun 18 August    Thruxton
22,23,24    Sat 14/Sun 15 September    Knockhill   
25,26,27    Sat 28/Sun 29 September    Silverstone
28,29,30    Sat 12/Sun 13 October    Brands Hatch (Grand Prix)

For further information visit: www.btcc.net

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