Colin Turkington waiting for crown to sink in

Colin Turkington was still pinching himself after securing the BTCC championship in the opening race of the day as he waited for his triumph to sink in.

Having had a characteristic lightning start, the BMW driver almost found himself in the lead after Paddock Hill Bend, before succumbing to Jason Plato and Sam Tordoff shortly before the Safety Car came out for a multi-car pileup behind.

Despite some challenge from Mat Jackson’s Ford Focus, Turkington held firmly on to third place behind the pair of MGs and, when coupled with his fastest lap, saw himself mathematically clear at the top of the standings with two races left to run.

“It’s unexpected really, you always think these things will always go to race three so to have it won already hasn’t really hasn’t sunk in,” an elated Turkington told TouringCarTimes. “It was another great race, to hit the podium is exactly what we’d aimed for. After the safety car it was a bit difficult with the Ford and it takes a lap or two to recover the tyres. I had a moment with him coming up the start straight but sometimes you have to take a risk. I knew if he got past there’d be more trouble.

“The pace was really good and midway through I could see I was quicker than the Ford behind so I managed it from there. I could just imagine the guys telling me to just sit there but it’s not easy to do that when you’ve got a quick car.

“I didn’t realise I’d won until I pulled in to parc ferme, I thought I probably needed one more point. I was prepared to go to round 30 as ever and I’m really pleased for those guys. I’ve been like a coiled spring all week, and when you work 10, 11, 12 months for this its great to finally get it.”