Colin Turkington rises to the top at Oulton Park

Colin Turkington will lead the way into the fifth meeting of the BTCC season at Croft in two weeks time after moving to the head of the standings on an emotional weekend at Oulton Park.

In what was his first outing on track since the passing of his mother, the Team BMW driver would be the biggest scorer from the weekend at a circuit where the BMW 125i M Sport has traditionally been strong.

Having qualified ninth on the grid for the opening race, Turkington brought his car to the finish in sixth, and then produced a strong drive in race two to come through the pack to take his first victory of the campaign.

A further podium in race three as part of a BMW 1-2-3 ensured that he now sits twelve points clear of Adam Morgan in the standings, although just 26 points currently cover the top six in what is developing into one of the most open championship battles in recent memory.

“It’s been an amazing amazing day for Team BMW and on a personal level, it feels great to get my first win of the year because the level of competition in the BTCC just seems to be going up and up,” he said. “To have the kind of performance we’ve put in today shows what an incredible team we have here and to be part of a 1-2-3 for WSR on the podium is a great feeling too.

“Winning always feels good, especially in the BMW, and we found the magic ingredient for race two. I enjoyed being out front and in the groove. I sensed soon on I had a strong car and it was time to strike. I’m over the moon for everybody. I just want to dedicate this one to my mum, who’s not here for the first time. Mum, that was for you.”