1) Colin Turkington
Colin Turkington’s story back to the top was completed this October, the former champion returning the series in 2013 and also battling against a bout of Bell’s palsy to make his second BTCC title more special alongside his family, who watched his success trackside.
In the end, the correct team and driver combination came out on top in 2014. The superlatives mounted up for Turkington throughout his title-winning season, his outright pace making him a qualifying dynamo, while team-mate Rob Collard admitted the outright speed of the Northern Irishman had left him stunned.
Behind the scenes, the debates surrounding parity between rear-wheel drive and front-wheel drive machines lingered throughout the final two-thirds of 2014, although WSR boss Dick Bennetts admitted that the team’s development across the winter and spring period warranted their performances.
Turkington’s speed alone seemed more the problem for their opposition, as the 2009 champion consistently placed himself at the front of the field to be then able to grab the advantage on Sundays, where he became difficult to usurp as he took a stranglehold on the championship after a mighty brace of meetings at Oulton Park and Croft with two poles and four wins.
A turning point could have been at Knockhill, beached in the gravel after contact with Jason Plato following a penalty incurred from Snetterton contact – that last word often not associated with Turkington in 2014, Bennetts acclaiming him as “the cleanest driver on the grid”.
It was rare otherwise that Turkington was involved in incidents or door-banging and a relentless charge from 27th to fourth with barely any panel damage was a vital title-defining moment that weekend in Fife.
The fact he emerged from a hungry dogfight over third spot in race three at Silverstone on the podium, exhausted from the action, was testament to his determination, and the second title that followed at Brands Hatch GP was a very popular one that welcomed the former champion’s name back to the trophy.
The statistics come the season’s end are enviable – 19 podiums and eight wins to Turkington’s name – the only further blips coming as a hangover once the title had been wrapped up.
This time, Turkington should be returning with the #1 plate to defend his crown, and you can read what he told TCF after winning the title right here.
