Turkington rejoins WSR for 2017posted in BTCC14 | 02 | 2017
DOUBLE TOURING CAR champion Colin Turkington has confirmed he has rejoined West Surrey Racing for the 2017 British Touring Car Championship. The former Knockhill race instructor will drive the latest development of the WSR-designed-and-built BMW 125i M Sport. (Related: Scot Gordon Shedden wins 2016 BTCC title in thriller)
The car, which won both the Teams’ and Constructors’/Manufacturers’ titles last year, will be tested by the 34-year-old from Portadown ahead of championship’s media day at Donington on March 16.
The championship makes its annual pilgrimage to Knockhill in Fife on August 12/13.
“It feels fantastic to re-join WSR for the 2017 season and I couldn’t be more excited about my return,” Turkington said today.
“From my debut in touring cars in 2002 right through to winning my second BTCC title, it’s been like a second home for me and my greatest achievements in motor racing have all come with them.
“Combining our accumulated rear-wheel-drive expertise and strong work ethic is a recipe for success and I’m confident this gives me the perfect opportunity to fight for honours once again.
“I’m particularly looking forward to driving the BMW 125i M Sport and feel the developments that have come about since 2014.”
Turkington’s decision was welcomed by WSR team principal Dick Bennetts.
“It’s great have Colin back for 2017,” he said. “His performances with various WSR BMWs have been extremely strong and he’s been a key part of our most successful seasons in the BTCC in 2009 and 2014.
“There’s definitely a sense of unfinished business as, despite our intentions, commercial reasons meant we weren’t able to stay together to defend our championships. We now head into 2017 with a very strong driver line-up, and we’re aiming for more titles.”
The partnership between Turkington and WSR has been one of the most successful in BTCC history, beginning with the Northern Irishman’s debut campaign in 2002 and running over nine seasons in three separate stints.
The combination has achieved much success in that time with 30 race wins, 86 podium finishes, eight Independents’ crowns and, most significantly, the overall Drivers’ Championship in 2009 and a driver-and-team double title in 2014.
Outside the BTCC, Turkington and WSR, running a BMW 320si, also contested selected rounds of the FIA World Touring Car Championship from 2007-2012, scoring a podium finish on their series debut and becoming race winners at Okayama, Japan, in 2010.
Turkington is the second driver to be announced by WSR for this season. He joins 2013 BTCC champion Andrew Jordan in a line-up that boasts 57 BTCC race wins, 163 podium finishes and three Drivers’ titles between them.
WSR’s third driver will be announced soon.
Related: Turkington and Shedden battle in the Knockhill sun
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Jim McGill