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Turkington say new tyres will alter racing

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Colin Turkington believes that the new, grippier, Dunlop tyres could shake up the racing in the BTCC in 2010. The tyre manufacturers are introducing a new tyre to conform to EU environmental regulations, but the reigning champion is sure that a side affect will be on the racing.

“I think it’s going to be very interesting this year with the introduction of the new tyre”, said Turkington speaking on the Dunlop stand the Autosport Show. “It’s possibly going to change the characteristics of the racing.

“What I saw in the testing was quite unusual how the car reacted, so I’m looking forward to how that develops.”

Turkington was one of several drivers who tested the new Dunlops during a two-day test at Snetterton in October.

“The new tyre makes the car grip to the track more, so obviously the lap time becomes a bit quicker. Whether or not that will be the case this year I don’t know, but I’m sure it will affect the racing a little bit.”

According to Dunlop, the new tyre is going to be both faster and more durable compared to the tyres they supplied to the BTCC in 2009.

The tyre will make its debut at Rockingham, due to the special requirements that the high-speed Thruxton (host of the opening rounds) circuit places on tyres.