Colin Turkington says that he can only attack in the final three races of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch GP circuit, qualifying in between his two major title challengers.
The reigning champion enters 32 points behind championship leader Gordon Shedden heading into tomorrow’s trio of races at the Kent circuit, also sitting nine adrift of Team BMR team-mate, Jason Plato.
The Northern Irishman this time last year entered in a similar position to what Shedden is now, and admits that being just one spot behind the Honda Civic Type-R driver on the grid keeps him still firmly in the game.
“It’s all to play for”, Turkington told The Checkered Flag after qualifying on Saturday. “I’m pleased with how qualifying went.
“It’s important to be up there and in the mix. It’s a very tight grid around here yet again but I’m right in there where I want to be.”
The 30-minute qualifying session saw three BMR Volkswagen CC machines qualify inside the top six, Turkington one spot ahead of Plato while Aron Smith starts on the front row alongside Mat Jackson‘s Motorbase Ford Focus.
BMR also lead the Teams’ Championship, Turkington hopeful of using the three-pronged BMR attack to help trim the points lead of Shedden to stay in contention.
“I hope so”, Turkington commented on BMR’s chances of chipping points out of his Honda rival. “I’ve just got to focus on myself and try to get to the front – then I’ll see what I can really do.”
Ultimately, Turkington’s most important factor remains one out of his hands, saying: “Fate will decide what happens in the end!
“I can go on the attack at least. My job is very clear which is a lot different to what it was last year. There’s still a lot at stake, so we’ll look forward to it all tomorrow.”
