TURKINGTON TAKES FIRST VICTORY OF 2023

MOTORSPORT SHOWROOM BRAND AMBASSADOR AND FOUR-TIME BTCC CHAMPION COLIN TURKINGTON ROARED HIS WAY TO A FIRST RACE WIN OF THE SEASON AT BRANDS HATCH ON SUNDAY

BRANDS HATCH INDY

ROUNDS 4, 5, 6

In a scintillating Race One performance, the Northern Irishman recorded his sixth win on the 1.2-mile ‘Indy’ layout of the Kent track, and the 64th of his illustrious career; a result that put him a clear second on the series’ all-time winners’ list.
As Team BMW’s first victory of the 2023 season, the win was also the 30th BTCC triumph for the current generation of the WSR-designed-and-built BMW 330 M Sport race car (in both i and e variants) since it was introduced to the series in 2019.
He followed that performance up with a feisty third in Race Two and then added fifth – having started ninth on the partially-reversed grid – to close the day.
His 47-point day elevated him to fourth in the Drivers’ standings and contributed to BMW’s second position in the Manufacturers’ points – just 16 off the championship lead.

HEAR FROM COLIN

It was a really strong day. We haven’t had the fastest car, but we still scored really well with the BMW and winning is excellent. We’ve got good points in the bag. It’s so difficult to set expectations because it is so competitive. So all we can do is prepare well, keep working hard through the weekend and just grind it out.

We maximised the opportunity of starting on the front row in Race One by using the soft tyres when we had the most hybrid boost.

It probably looked simple to those sat at home but it was a real game of cat and mouse, trying to second guess the guys behind whilst feeling our way through what was really the first long run on that rubber.

There’s a big difference between the soft and medium tyre options and in Race Two Ash and Tom were able to capitalise while I had to wait for the grip to come to me on those mediums. I didn’t have the hybrid to really fight back and ultimately I have to be happy with picking up a podium.

I’ve benefitted a little bit from others misfortune in Race Three to finish where I did, but overall we were clever with strategy and we worked it well. That’s been the key.

It’s six finishes from six races and we go forward to Snetterton in a good place.

RESULTS
Qualifying: P2
Race 1: P1
Race 2: P3
Race 3: P5

CHAMPIONSHIP POSITION: P4

WATCH BACK THE ACTION
Watch back the drama unfold on the ITV hub by clicking https://www.itv.com/watch/british-touring-car-championship/1a5204

GALLERY
Have a look through the Brands Hatch photos in the gallery below!