Colin Turkington | 4 Time BTCC champion and Team BMW driver Colin Turkington. Currently driving for Team BMW in the 2020 British Touring Car Championship |
29.08.22

NO PAIN, NO CHAMPAGNE

TURKINGTON MAINTAINS CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD DESPITE A “TOUGH THRUXTON”

THRUXTON – ROUNDS 22, 23, 24

  • Colin Turkington maintained his BTCC championship lead yesterday at Thruxton, despite a difficult weekend at the Hampshire circuit.
  • The four-time champion showed his resolve, digging deep and playing the long game ensuring he picked up enough points to keep his rivals at bay.
  • Thruxton has always been a challenging circuit for Team BMW, but Turkington’s race 3 podium alongside team mate Stephen Jelley was a great reward for the determined efforts of the West Surrey Racing squad.
  • Twenty-four races are now complete, with only six races left to decide the 2022 BTCC champion.
  • There’s a short break now before the next event, when the BTCC heads to the home of British Motorsport and local circuit for Colin – Silverstone on the 24th and 25th September.
  • Watch back the three races from yesterday on the ITV hub!
Colin has a six point advantage at the top of the standings

HEAR FROM COLIN

“It became a rescue mission this weekend following qualifying, but it was important to keep positive and aim for three top ten results. That’s easier said than done in this series.

You can aim to score big in the reversed grid race but in reality never actually get there, so we did well to execute the plan!

The combination of the abrasive track surface and the hard tyre leaves our window of performance quite slim. A minor change and you can end up fighting the car rather than improve it. It’s always been a challenge for us in the BMW but by race three the car was the best it’s been all weekend. We just hadn’t enough to challenge for the win but we had the step forward in pace to keep the car on the podium.

The third race was critical for my championship campaign. It felt like a lot was riding on getting that result. I’m really pleased to have secured those points and keep the lead, despite a very tough weekend.

Everyone has a bump in the road in this championship but we dug deep and ended the day with a good points haul. It’s been an intense period lately, but I’m in a good place and feeling positive.

Turkington praised the efforts of himself and the team this weekend – digging deep and staying positive.

RESULTS

Qualifying – P15

Race 1 – P10

Race 2 – P10

Race 3 – P2

Championship position – P1 – 311 points

Colin was delighted to end the day on the podium with team mate Stephen Jelley

WATCH THE ACTION BACK!

Did you miss the race day TV coverage shown LIVE on ITV?

Watch it all back on the ITV player by clicking here

WATCH THE RACES!

Colin claimed two P10 results and a P2 to keep his lead at the top of the championship

NEXT UP!

There’s a short break before the penultimate event of the 2022 season at Silverstone on the 24th and 25th September. Regarded as a ‘home’ circuit for Colin, the Team BMW driver lives just 20 minutes away.

Race 3 was critical for Colin’s title fight

GALLERY

Check out some of the Team BMW and Colin Turkington images from the 8th event at Thruxton.

Turkington worked hard for his results
The BMW wasn’t perfectly suited to the Hampshire circuit but Turkington made it count in Race 3

Colin said he had to “dig deep”
Team members Sophie Bull and Pete Harris
Fans receiving their SAP water cartons at the pitlane walkabout

That podium meant alot to Colin
Team and family were delighted to have something to smile about at the end of a difficult weekend
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NO PAIN, NO CHAMPAGNE

NO PAIN, NO CHAMPAGNE

TURKINGTON MAINTAINS CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD DESPITE “TOUGH THRUTON”