Colin Turkington back on top after “excellent weekend”

Colin Turkington has moved back into the lead in the BTCC title race on the back of an “excellent weekend” on track at Rockingham.

Although unable to challenge for victory in the three races, Turkington fought his way forwards from qualifying twelfth on the grid in his ballast heavy BMW to secure three solid top ten finishes.

A retirement for rival Tom Ingram in race one allowed the WSR driver to hit the front in the championship standings after seventh in race one, although fifth place in race two behind Ingram meant that he then moved ahead going into the final race of the weekend.

Showing strong pace throughout, Turkington fought hard to run inside the top three going into the latter stages and was able to make a move on Matt Simpson at the final corner stick to clinch second spot and vital championship points.

It means Turkington leaves Rockingham four points ahead of Ingram in the standings going to Knockhill in two weeks time.

“It’s been an excellent weekend for us,” he said. “We haven’t had the fastest car, but we kept grafting away and moved forwards in each race. We worked hard to improve the car and reaped the rewards for the work that we did. I felt we were in for a tough day after qualifying, so to come away from the weekend leading the championship is great.

“The conditions through race day have made it far from easy and had the rain started to fall then I think we would have been in trouble as slick tyres and a damp circuit don’t favour the BMW.

“We leave here four points ahead and every point now is going to be important. I’ll push for every one as I did in race three and every little point we can gain will help.

“It’ll be hard going to Knockhill as leader with the extra weight but I’m going to enjoy leading for the next two weeks.”