RESILIENCE WILL PREVAIL IN TURKINGTONS TURNAROUND - Colin Turkington | 4 Time BTCC champion and Team BMW driver Colin Turkington. Currently driving for Team BMW in the 2020 British Touring Car Championship

RESILIENCE WILL PREVAIL IN TURKINGTONS TURNAROUND FOR THRUXTON

“PASSION AND FIRE OF TEAM BMW WILL EXTINGUISH THE DISAPPOINTMENT” DECLARES TURKINGTON AFTER DIFFICULT DONINGTON

It was the day that never was for Team BMW’s Colin Turkington on Sunday, after a catalogue of technical issues left him bereft of any success.

WINTERY CONDITIONS PROVE TRICKY

Cold temperatures and rainy skies at the low grip East Midlands circuit got the weekend off to a challenging start for the rear wheel drive cars, as they faced tricky and slippy conditions. Eager keen to succeed, Turkington smashed out a last lap that catapulted him from the lower end of the grid up to the 6th row; the best placed RWD car by quite a margin.

RECAP ON SATURDAY’S QUALIFYING HERE

CONFIDENT FOR SUCCESS

With forecast dry conditions for race day, Team BMW were enthusiastic about the potential for a strong haul of points and converting a soaking wet Saturday into a successful Sunday. True to form Race 1 displayed the rapid pace in the Turkington / BMW combination, as they climbed the order in the opening laps, however contact* through the Craner Curves turned him into the oncoming traffic, before an incredible save seen him re-join in 19th position. It was here we witnessed his resolve and determination, as in almost poetic synchronisation, Turkington and Team BMW teammate Collard, worked their way up through the field to finish in 10th and 11th positions.

*Senna Proctor was later penalised for his move on Turkington and forced to start the second race of the day from the back of the grid.

HEROIC TEAM BMW EFFORT

Unfortunately this is where the fun ended for Turkington, after technical issues forced an engine change before race 3. Although a heroic effort was shown by the mechanics to get him back out on track, complications continued to stand in their way. Completing the third race with compromised performance, Colin collected valuable manufacturer points, but crossed the line in P21 ending a dramatic day.

CLICK TO WATCH DONINGTON PARK RACES ON ITV4

MENTALLY STRONG

On reflection Turkington remains focused on the goal and although admitting they are going through choppy waters, he maintains that the passion and fight in Team BMW will steer them to a successful Thruxton.

“There’s no point denying that I had one of the most difficult weekends in recent times and accepting that is part of the journey to recover. These kind of results are unchartered territory for us, but as a team with such expertise, we will turn this around.

Motorsport can be so cruel sometimes, but the tough days trigger the resilience to get back on track. The teamwork throughout Sunday was incredible and a force everyone could feel.

There was so much potential in the 1 Series for race day and the opening race was a clear indication of that. We have to take those ‘pace positives’ and use it to fuel our drive in getting back on track for Thruxton.

Everyone will have a tough weekend at some point during the season and what will set us apart from the others is how we recover.

The deconstruction and analysis at WSR has been ongoing since Sunday evening and it is in this controlled environment where the team can make progress. The passion for success within Team BMW will get us back up and challenging for podiums and wins at Thruxton.”