Colin Turkington, who has won the BTCC Independents category for the last 3 years, and who is the current Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion, is currently without a drive after RAC scaled back their sponsorship of WSR, the team Colin has spent all but one year of his BTCC career with.
So with a few days before entries for the 2010 WTCC close, and 52 days until the BTCC season starts at Thruxton, what options does the man from Northern Ireland have open to him?
Colin, who unveiled the interim livery for the WSR BMW 320si's at the recent Autosport International Show has already stated that he would like to stay with WSR and defend his BTCC crown, Colin said, when asked: “I'd love to stay with WSR, but I know there are guys out there with money who might be hard to turn down,” Mike Ewan, the team manager of WSR said “RAC scaling back has hurt us, no doubt, but we'll still be in Touring Cars this year and we'd love Colin to be with us.”
WTCC could be an option for Colin, with both Proteam Motorsport and Wiechers-Sport having made offers for his services; Colin would not confirm this but did say: “I have some interesting offers on the table, but I have to think long and hard about my next move, because it will be a very important one for my career.”
Colin could still graduate to the World Touring Car Championship, but leave behind the BMW as former British Touring Car Championship team, Bamboo Engineering are interested in securing his services for their maiden World Touring Car Championship season with Harry Vaulkhard and former Asia Porsche Carerra Cup Champion Darryl O'Young, in a Chevrolet Lacetti. The team have confirmed that they are interested in his services, and have the ability to expand to run a third car.
The Chevrolet link doesn't end there, RML are also interested in his services for a BTCC campaign in a Chevrolet Cruze.
Another option for Colin is the re-worked European Touring Car Cup, a 4 round miniseries. This could be done alongside the BTCC or the WTCC.
So where do the fans think Colin will end up?
Most fans believe that Colin will end up in the WTCC, though they would like to see him stay in the BTCC if a WTCC deal can't be agreed. The fans also believe that Colin could remain in a BMW, whether it's in WTCC or BTCC, and if he left the BTCC for WTCC, he'd be missed in the BTCC.
We shall see where he is come Media Day… or could another Jason Plato and RML deal happen again?
Picture Credit: BTCC.net
