TURKINGTON LINKED TO WSR SWITCH
Northern Irishman leaves Team BMR BTCC squad
Two-time champion Colin Turkington is working on a deal to remain in the British Touring Car Championship in 2017 after parting ways with the Team BMR Subaru outfit.
The 34-year-old announced last Friday that he had split from BMR, the team he has driven with for the last two BTCC seasons.
Turkington took Subaru’s maiden win in the BTCC at Oulton Park last season and finished fourth overall in the points. He won the Independents Trophy with Team BMR in a VW CC in 2015.
Turkington was team-mates to Jason Plato, James Cole and Team BMR principal Warren Scott last season in the brand new estate Subaru Levorg car.
Although Turkington has yet to secure a new deal, he says he wants to remain in the BTCC, which he conquered in 2009 and 2014.
Sources have linked the Northern Irishman with a return to the WSR squad, with which he claimed his two titles. WSR has signed Andrew Jordan to drive one of its BMW 125i M Sports in 2017, but has two other seats to fill.
WSR and Turkington were remaining tight-lipped over the future. Turkington said: “Number one in any driver’s mind is putting yourself in the most competitive car, the best team – you have to give yourself the best chance to win. That’s my focus right now.
“I’ll continue to work hard over the next few weeks to make something happen.”
It also casts uncertainty over the Subaru line-up for the forthcoming year. Plato has a contract to remain with the team and Cole is expected to stay, but the other two seats are still up for grabs.
Team BMR boss Scott said: “Colin has been an absolute pleasure to work with over the past two seasons and has brought a tremendous amount of knowledge, which has aided BMR in its growth and development as a frontrunning BTCC team.
“I wish Colin good luck for the forthcoming season and would like to thank him for all his efforts and great achievements that he has brought to BMR.”