CHAMPION GOES ‘HOME’ TO BMW
Double champion reunited with his title-winning outfit for fresh campaign
Two-time British Touring Car champion Colin Turkington has rejoined the WSR team for the 2017 contest, and he will be reunited with the BMW 125i M Sport.
The 34-year-old has spent the last two seasons with Team BMR, firstly with a VW CC and then with a brand new Subaru. He finished fourth in last year’s points after five victories in the rearwheel-drive Levorg. However, BMR and Turkington parted ways earlier this season after a turbulent end to the 2016 campaign.
Turkington has spent nine of his 12 seasons in the tin-top championship with the WSR team, and has taken 28 wins with the team.
Turkington said: “It feels fantastic to rejoin wsr for the 2017 season and I couldn’t be more excited about my return.
“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 rearwheel-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 took a sabbatical from the BTCC after winning the title in a Team RAC BMW 320si in 2009, but returned to WSR in 2013, when the team was running the BMW 125i M Sport for the first season.
The Northern Irishman and his engineer Kevin Berry helped develop the car and the driver claimed his second title in 2014, before the withdrawal of backer ebay forced Turkington to leave again.
Dick Bennetts, WSR team principal, said he thinks there is another chapter to be written in the team and driver’s history with each other.
“It’s great have Colin back for 2017,” said Bennetts. “His performances with various WSR BMWS have been extremely strongand 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.”
WSR has already signed Andrew Jordan for its 2017 line-up, and has one other seat yet to fill. A driver will be confirmed by the end of the month. Feature: Colin Turkington goes back to BMW and WSR, page 26-27