Colin Turkington hopes for a drier Sunday afternoon after qualifying fifth on the grid in a sodden Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship qualifying session at Rockingham.
The double BTCC champion topped the second practice session of the day in dry conditions, but the 30-minute qualifying encounter that followed was held in torrential conditions that briefly halted action at the halfway stage.
Turkington climbed to fifth spot behind Silverline Subaru BMR Racing team-mate Jason Plato on the restart, declaring Saturday a successful one for the Subaru Levorg squad.
“I think the dry would have suited us better going on free practice”, Turkington told The Checkered Flag afterwards. “It’s the first time we’ve had the Subaru here and it’s in very tricky conditions, but we’re at the right end of the grid so you can say it’s been a good qualifying.”
The weather reports indicate a drier Sunday compared to what Saturday delivered, Turkington hopeful that such reports come true after limited running in the wet for Subaru.
“Croft race three was the only time we’ve properly run in the wet”, Turkington added. “We’ve found before that, if the car is reasonably well balanced in the dry, it can be good in the wet too so we’re in a good place with the chassis. Regardless of the conditions, you’ve just got to tip-toe around and find some grip.
“The chassis has improved throughout the day. Hopefully tomorrow it will be dry because that’s our best chance, but it could be mixed. We’ll take what comes, but today has been a good day.”
Turkington enters Sunday 48 points adrift of Sam Tordoff in the Drivers’ Championship, a deficit he hopes to slash considerably by staying out of trouble with nine races remaining in 2016.
He added: “Inside on the third row is a good place to start I think, so tomorrow is about scoring big points and closing in on the BMWs. You’ve got to keep scoring.
“My goal now is to reduce to points deficit, so I’ll focus on my own job and not do too much different to what I normally would.”
