Photo: WTCC Media

Colin Turkington hopes for full season drive

By

Former BTCC Champion Colin Turkington faces another frustrating season on the sidelines, unless he can secure a full season drive. The 2009 Champion endured a bit part WTCC season in 2010, starting just five weekends in the World series, something he doesn’t want to repeat in 2011.

“I’m just keen to do a full season’s racing,” Turkington told TouringCarTimes. “Last year, although I had some good results in World Touring Cars, it’s always difficult when you’re only racing sporadically to be consistent all the time.

“So this year I’m not really bothered where I’m racing as long as I can do a full season and be competitive.”

In Turkington’s ten race appearances he took four podium finishes, including an inaugural WTCC win at Okayama after the disqualification of Andy Priaulx.

Despite that, and his BTCC title, Turkington finds himself in a familiar position to last winter.

“We’re still trying to put it all together for this year,” says the Northern Irishman, “But as yet it’s all a little bit far away. Basically it boils down to not having any money, and that’s how it is at the moment.”

Turkington also confirmed that while BMW’s withdrawal as a WTCC manufacturer hadn’t directly affected his plans for 2011, it hadn’t helped either.

“I’ve never had any promises from BMW. Obviously if they had still been there as a manufacturer it may have made things a little easier, but at the end of the day I was still an Independent with West Surrey Racing.

“At this stage we’re just talking with everyone and trying to make something happen. I’ve a good relationship with WSR, but I’m just keen to be racing and I’m not sure what they can offer at the moment.”

Turkington hasn’t ruled out a future away from the WTCC, BTCC or even touring cars altogether, saying, “I guess I am sort of a touring car specialist, but I’ll drive anything I can get my hands on, so I have spoken to other teams outside of BTCC and WTCC, so hopefully something will come off for me.”

The key thing however is being on the grid for the opening race, regardless of the series.

“Well it’s very important. To have a chance of winning the championship you have to be there from the start. Although it’s only mid-January now, the first race comes around soon and time runs out, so I’m trying my best to be on the grid somewhere, but you know there’s no guarantees.”