Reid backing Turkington for BTCC glory

Former BTCC fan favourite Anthony Reid believes that Colin Turkington is on target to claim the driver’s title in the current season, despite the pressure being placed on him by former champions Jason Plato, Fabrizio Giovanardi and Matt Neal.

Reid has perfect scope to make such a claim. Not only is he a seasoned BTCC stalwart, but also is a former team mate of Turkington at West Surrey Racing, as well as currently being an advisor to the Northern Irishman.

Speaking to the official series website, Reid stated he believed Turkington had matured considerably as a driver, and that recent results were a visible indication of this development. He specifically focused on the Outlon Park round when Turkington was put under immense pressure, from Giovanardi in particular, and kept his nerve to make it a double race winning weekend.

The summer break is almost over for the BTCC, and racing will resume again at Snetterton over the first weekend of August. The other drivers in the hunt for the title will immediately set about trying to overhaul Turkington at the top of the standings, but Reid feels that the BMW racer will be more than ready for the challenge. He labels him as “one of the most experienced drivers in championship”, and when placed in context, that sits him alongside the likes of Plato, Giovanardi, Neal and James Thompson.

Reid was also keen to mention Turkington’s team mate, Stephen Jelley, as a key member of the title assault. Whereas it is highly unlikely that Jelley could mount any realistic title challenge of his own, Reid acknowledges his team mate role as highly important in the six remaining meetings of the season.

Rounding up his talk with btcc.net, Reid went on to explain what it would mean to Dick Bennetts and WSR if they did claim the 2009 title, “this would be the icing on the cake of Dick’s career”.