BTCC

Colin Turkington Says ‘Premier League’ BTCC Too Hard To Call

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Colin Turkington compared the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship’s unpredictability as akin to the Premier League after picking up his first win of the season at Donington Park.

The Northern Irishman enjoyed a trio of top-five finishes at the Leicester circuit, adding his first victory of the season in the third and final race of the day in sodden conditions.

Although victory was inherited later on following Gordon Shedden‘s exclusion from race three, the Team BMW driver moved up to second in the Drivers’ Championship and within 14 points of Tom Ingram as a result.

“I was really happy just to end the day with a podium”, Turkington told The Checkered Flag after race three. “We’ve just been steady and three top-fives is a great points haul. Donington has never been our best track.

“The BMW was very good though and I was pleasantly surprised by how fast we were.”

The wet surface left Turkington and fellow competitors guessing in the final race of the day, saying that his BTCC experience played a huge part in making it to the end unscathed.

“We were into the unknown there”, said Turkington. “I didn’t know what to expect from the car in those conditions and at Donington Park it’s very slippery, so it was pretty treacherous conditions out there.

“It takes a few extra laps to get the fronts working, so once that happened the balance got better. Every lap was an adventure and the conditions were changing all time, so I guess I can put that one down to experience.”

With five winners from the opening six races and a tightly-packed grid in 2017 already, Turkington added that all cards remain on the table heading to Thruxton’s Thursday test and the next visit at the same Hampshire circuit on 6-7 May.

“The pack is so tight now that it depends on the ballast that you’re carrying and now there’s too many unknowns for Thruxton with a bigger tyre to add to the mix.

“The chassis seems to be working and the new engine is helping us too so of course we’re in with a good chance. Thruxton is a bit of everything. The bigger tyre should spread the load.

“The BTCC these days – it’s like the Premier League. You don’t know what’s going to happen next.”

Photo: BTCC Media

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