Colin Turkington expects the final race of the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season to throw up ‘something special’, entering 10 points adrift of Sam Tordoff with one race to go.
The Silverline Subaru Team BMR driver added his fourth and fifth wins of the season from pole position in the season finale’s opening races at Brands Hatch GP circuit, setting up a three-way fight for the title with Sam Tordoff and Gordon Shedden.
Turkington’s race two win was more hard-fought than the initial, coming under brief pressure from team-mate Jason Plato and Honda’s Shedden in the latter half of the 17-lapper.
Speaking to media including The Checkered Flag afterwards, Turkington commented: “[Jason Plato] was fast in the middle part of that race. He was faster than me. It looks like he took one for the team which has kept me in this position.
“It was OK in the beginning but from mid-race on it was a struggle. I was losing grip but maybe it will be easier on the medium to carry the weight.”
The result leaves Turkington 10 points adrift of Tordoff heading into the final race, Turkington starting seventh with 75kg of additional ballast once again while Shedden and Tordoff line up third and fifth respectively on the grid.
Turkington added: “I’m obviously still in the mix but that was a lot more difficult with the weight on and the soft tyre. It’s a big point’s gap to swing. 10 points in one race with the weight will be a critical factor.
“You can manage the weight when you’re in the lead but it’s a lot more difficult to manage when you’re in the pack. I’ve got my work cut out but it’s nice to get this close.”
Having fought to a brace of BTCC titles at this very track in both 2009 and 2014, Turkington says that he is ready to enjoy being the chaser this time in the 2016 finale.
“I’ve got nothing to lose”, Turkington concluded. “I’m just going to go out there and enjoy it. The last race always throws up something special.”
