Turkington: “Pressure isn’t a bad thing”

Colin Turkington has vowed that “pressure isn’t a bad thing” as he seeks to become the first driver from Northern Ireland to claim the BTCC title. The Team RAC driver heads into this weekend’s final rounds at Brands Hatch with a 13-point lead over reigning champion Fabrizio Giovanardi.

Speaking ahead of the weekend, which could see him make history, Turkington said, “The nerves haven’t set in as yet, although I’m sure I’ll feel slightly differently when it comes to race weekend. Having said that, a bit of pressure isn’t always a bad thing.”

The 27-year-old Ulsterman, in his seventh season of BTCC racing, has won six races so far in 2009 and provisionally wrapped up his third Independent Driver’s crown, but knows that a further win at Brands Hatch could not only give him his 20th victory in the series, but also help him secure his first ever overall title in the BTCC.

“I’m glad to have a lead going into the final round, but anything can happen”, said Turkington, “The last race at Rockingham could turn out to be crucial. Sometimes you need a bit of luck and it was good to out-score both Fabrizio and Jason [Plato].”

“I should by more competitive in qualifying than I was at Rockingham. If I can get the car near the front of the grid I think I’ll have a great chance. The Team have been brilliant all year, and hopefully I can win it for them.”

Meanwhile teammate Stephen Jelley comes into the final meeting in victorious form, having scored his first ever BTCC race win at Rockingham in race one, before following that up with his second victory in race three. This weekend though Jelley’s roll will be as much about supporting Turkington as it is about his own race.

“Although the main priority for the team is to ensure Colin comes away with the title, my aim is to finish in the top five in the Driver’s Championship,” said the Leicester driver, who currently lies in seventh in the standings, 21-points behind fifth placed Matt Neal.

“The Team RAC BMW is always quick round Brands, and the medium to high speed corners should suit us. I’ve had two very strong meetings at Silverstone and Rockingham, and it feels great to be on a bit of a roll. Brands is a circuit I enjoy, and hopefully I can be at the sharp end again, although I’ve never driven the full circuit in anger, I’m confident I can be up there challenging. “

Jelley’s boss WSR Team Principal Dick Bennetts agrees, saying, “Stephen can be right up there challenging once more. His recent form has been fantastic, and he’s buzzing with confidence. Hopefully everyone associated with Team RAC can end the season on a real high note.”

Looking ahead to the weekend, Bennetts confirmed that the team’s Sunbury-on-Thames base had been all go in the build-up to Brands, with 100% re-builds carried out on all three cars, but that “excitement is definitely building” ahead of what could be a historic weekend for West Surrey Racing, who made their BTCC debut back in April 1996, but are yet to win the Driver’s title.

“The BMW should be quick”, said Bennetts, “But the Chevrolet’s certainly hold the advantage having had a lot of practice around the full Grand Prix circuit in the WTCC. It will be difficult for Colin to qualify on the front two rows due the 45kgs success ballast he’ll be carrying.”

Turkington holds a 13-point lead over double champion Giovanardi, with 2001 champion Jason Plato the coming man, a further fifteen points behind on 221, making it all to play for in the three races this weekend.