A CHAMPION'S NEW CHAPTER - Colin Turkington

COLIN TURKINGTON TO RACE BMW GT4 IN BRITISH GT

After a year away from the spotlight, four-time British Touring Car (BTCC) legend Colin Turkington is making a high-profile return to full-time racing for 2026.
Trading his famous touring car for a stunning Flexifly-backed BMW M4 GT4 (to be revealed at a later date), Colin will compete in the prestigious British GT Championship.
In a move that will delight many, Colin is reuniting with his long-term team, West Surrey Racing (WSR).
While they have won countless titles together in touring cars, this is a historic “new era” as both driver and team tackle the world of GT racing for the first time.
This ambitious project has been made possible by the vision of fellow Northern Irishman Ernie Graham and Flexifly, assembling a powerhouse squad that Colin describes as his “dream team.”
The 2026 British GT season kicks off on April 25th at Silverstone with a 3-hour feature race and will conclude at Brands Hatch for the season finale on October 26th and 27th.
Colin and Ernie will begin their pre-season testing in the WSR-run BMW GT4 next month ahead of the Championship launch on Tuesday 31st March also at Silverstone circuit.

Follow the Action
The move is also a major win for the fans. Colin’s new journey with Ernie will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, alongside free, uninterrupted live streaming of every race on the GT World YouTube channel.

Tin tops to Sports cars
While touring cars are known for “door-to-door” racing, Colin’s trademark driving style should be perfectly suited for GT machinery. GT racing rewards drivers who can be blisteringly fast without punishing the car, making Colin a natural fit for this new endurance-focused challenge. Notably, the season opener at Silverstone will be the Championships longest race at three hours. Other standout events are Spa and Donington Park both with two-hour races.

Fresh Challenge
After 20 years at the top of the BTCC, Colin is full of gratitude and excitement about the project. Having chosen to step away from his touring car career 12 months ago to find the right opportunity, this new chapter with Flexifly and WSR is the perfect start to reposition himself within the endurance scene.

“I am incredibly grateful to Flexifly and Ernie Graham for this opportunity and for putting such a dream team together,” says Colin Turkington. “I have had a great desire to move in this direction for some time, and after twenty three seasons in touring cars, the time is right for a fresh challenge. To be doing this with WSR—the team that feels like family—makes it even more special.”

I know my fans will be really happy to see me back in a full-time competitive seat,” Turkington continued. “The fact they can watch every race live on Sky Sports is great. I’m excited to get to work and see what we can do in a GT car. We have a good test plan in place to get both of us up to speed in the BMW and with Ernie’s potent ambition to succeed, I’m hopeful we can perform well at the 3 hour season opener at my home track Silverstone in April.”

Sneak peek

In anticipation of a full Flexifly livery reveal later next month, take a peek at some details on the BMW M4 GT4.

Rally heritage

Ernie Graham is a veteran of the historic rallying scene with multiple notable European successes. Ernie and Colin first paired up last year in a 1990 BMW M3 e30 at the Silverstone Festival and later at a Motor Racing Legends event. This successful outing for the Northern Irish pair served as the ultimate proof of concept for their partnership, demonstrating that Ernie’s rally-honed reflexes and Colin’s circuit precision make them a formidable “dream NI team” as they now transition into a full-time British GT campaign

2026 British GT Race Calendar:

25-26 April: Silverstone 500 (Season Opener)
23-25 May: Oulton Park
20-21 June: Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium)
15-16 August: Snetterton
5-6 September: Donington Park
26-27 September: Brands Hatch (Season Finale)

VIP HOSPITALITY

For those looking to experience the 2026 season in ultimate style, bespoke VIP hospitality packages are available for both corporate and personal use at the British GT events. This premium environment offers the perfect base for the weekend, featuring high-end catering and a front-row seat to the atmosphere of the paddock. Guests can choose between full weekend passes for the complete experience or race day only access to suit their schedule.

A major highlight of these packages is the inclusion of exclusive grid walks, allowing you to step onto the tarmac just minutes before the lights go out to see Colin, Ernie, and the WSR BMW GT4 up close. Whether you’re hosting key business clients or enjoying a bucket-list day out with friends, these packages provide an unforgettable, “inside track’ perspective of the championship. For details on tailored hosting options and availability, please reach out to Louise at contact@colinturkington.com.

BRITISH GT BASICS

The Pro-Am pairing: Under the FIA’s driver grading system, Colin is a Gold-rated professional and Ernie is a Bronze-rated amateur.

Mandatory Drive Times

The Pro-Am rules ensure that Ernie, as the Bronze driver, plays a critical role in the team’s success:

The Start: In endurance races like the Silverstone 500, Ernie must be the one to start the race.
Minimum Stint: In a two-hour race, the Bronze driver’s mandatory minimum drive time has been increased for 2026 to 60 minutes.
Maximum Stint: No single driver can exceed 100 minutes of total drive time in a three-hour race.

Qualifying Format

Both drivers must qualify separately. For the two and three hour races, their starting position is determined by the combined fastest times of both Colin and Ernie. For Weekends with 2 x 1-Hour Races, the Race 1 Grid is determined solely by the Am driver’s fastest lap in Qualifying and the race 2 Grid is determined solely by the Pro driver’s fastest lap. This requires the professional (Colin) to be as fast as possible while the amateur (Ernie) must also deliver a competitive lap to ensure a high grid slot.

Race 1 Grid: Determined solely by the Am driver’s fastest lap in Q1.

Compensation and Success Penalties

To keep the field level, the Pro-Am class is subject to specific timing rules during pit stops:

Pit Stop Compensation Time: For 2026, Pro-Am and Silver crews are balanced using “Compensation Time” to ensure fair competition between different pairings.
Success Penalties: If the duo finishes on the podium, they will be “handicapped” in the following race with an additional 20, 15, or 10 seconds added to their mandatory pit stop time.

Championship Points

Colin and Ernie will compete for the Overall GT4 Championship and the GT4 Pro-Am Title.

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