TURKINGTON AND BMW CONFIRM BTCC PLANS FOR 2022

BMW AND TURKINGTON: A FORMIDABLE FORCE

A NEW ERA OF BTCC IS SET TO BEGIN, BUT SOME THINGS ARE BEST LEFT UNTOUCHED

The names are synonymous with one another, and today marks the confirmation of another BTCC campaign together for Colin Turkington and BMW. Easily one of the most successful pairings in British Motorsport, the 4 times BTCC Champion has been behind the wheel of a BMW in the BTCC for 10 years, with 2022 set to bring that tally up to an electrifying 11!

4 times BTCC Champion Colin Turkington who will begin his 18th season in 2022

TOURING CAR ICON

Colin Turkington has become one of the most decorated British Touring Car drivers in history and as the BTCC embarks on a new era of regulations, Turkington has nothing but high hopes to stay at the top of his game. The Northern Irishman will remain with Team BMW (run by West Surrey Racing) for their 6^th consecutive season and feels that consistency and stability will be key in this new exciting chapter for the series.

Colin Turkington with engineer John Waterman

HELLO HYBRID

The introduction of hybrid power to the BTCC has been a long time in planning and makes its anticipated debut this season. Success ballast has been removed from the regulations with bonus electric power now used instead. Up to 15 seconds of electric power per lap will be on offer, however, championship position and race results will determine exactly how much of that is actually awarded to each driver.

BOOSTED BY THE CHANGE

Colin Turkington is no stranger to changes within the BTCC, having driven in the series since 2002. He believes the wisdom and collective experience of himself and Team BMW will stand them in good stead as the BTCC gets to grips with the new hybrid challenges.

Every season I finish the year completely exhausted from the BTCC, but every year I’m also so thankful that I have the passion and drive to give it everything. This time it’s no different in that respect but the extra motivation a new challenge brings is pretty special. Not only am I trying to improve on a personal level, but we’ll be adjusting and learning something new too. It’s in my nature, I can’t help but be obsessed with this challenge!

Team BMW and I have put some incredible seasons together since 2017, and 2022 gives us another shot at going for glory once more.

There are already so many unknowns about how the new hybrid regs will play out on the track and over the course of a season, so I feel its more important than ever to have a stable and consistent team behind me. West Surrey Racing have continuously provided a championship winning car to me over the years and we have this amazing opportunity to do it all over again with the new hybrid BTCC race car.

The whole grid will get the same limited amount of testing with the new system, and I believe this presents an opportunity for us as a Team.

We’ve proven before how we can fast-track our learning with something new so I’m hopeful we can hit the ground running once the racing begins.

I’ve got great people around me, I’m excited by the challenge and I’m hopeful of the positive steps we can take to showcase a more sustainable automotive future.

Colin Turkington

2022 BTCC SEASON

The 2022 season kicks off at Donington Park in late April and returns to it’s usual sequence of events. The highly anticipated Season Finale will take place during the second weekend of October around the Brands Hatch GP circuit.

THE FACTS

Colin will make his 500^th BTCC start this season.
He already has 60 BTCC career wins under his belt.
2022 marks the beginning of a new hybrid era for the BTCC and will mark the end of success ballast for the series.
This will be Colin’s 18^th season in the series.
With 162 podiums to his name, Turkington is no stranger to success.
2022 marks Colin’s 11^th BTCC season in a BMW and his 15^th BTCC season with West Surrey Racing.
Colin and experienced engineer John Waterman start their 3rd season together in the BTCC.