Photo: PSP Images

WSR retains Colin Turkington, Stephen Jelley for 2022

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West Surrey Racing has retained the services of both Colin Turkington and Stephen Jelley for the 2022 BTCC season in a move that completes its three-strong line-up.

The pair will once again compete under the Team BMW banner for the first year of the hybrid era, with the previously announced Jake Hill entered under the MB Motorsport with ROKiT name.

Having missed out on a record-breaking fifth title last season, Turkington returns for another year with WSR focused firmly on trying to reclaim his crown from Ash Sutton.

The Northern Irishman admitted that the introduction of hybrid technology would provide a new challenge on track but said his approach to racing would remain the same.

“I’m very happy to be back with Team BMW for the new season,” he said. “I’m extremely proud to represent BMW – the greatest manufacturer in touring car history across the world – and to do it with WSR, a team that I made my BTCC debut with 20 years ago and have won all my titles with.

“Of course winning the championship is the aim, as it always is, but the move to Hybrid technology is going to add an extra challenge. Because of the change in technology and weight, it’s going to be like starting with an all-new car for everyone on the grid, so being able to keep calm, maximise every points opportunity, stay reliable and race well will be more important than ever before.

“It has the potential to create overtaking opportunities that previously didn’t exist and gives us all the chance to race more sustainably – which is something that’s very important to me.”

Jelley meanwhile rejoined the team last season from Team Parker Racing, and will go into 2022 seeking to fight for victories after two podium finishes last year.

“I didn’t look at moving in any way, shape, or form, this winter,” he said. “We had a good year in 2021 and while it would have been nice to pick up a win, the overall performance was strong. I’m looking forward to working with WSR, BMW and Colin again, and also with Jake – who’s a good chap and a hard racer – coming in, I think we’ll all be very fast and competitive.

“My engineer Andy [Miller] has experience from Formula E that should help us hit the ground running with the Hybrid system too. In a season where there’ll be so many unknowns, having that experience, allied to WSR’s preparation and BMW’s reliability, is going to be very important.”