West Surrey Racing (WSR) have announced that double British Touring Car Champion Colin Turkington has returned to the team where he won both his titles for the 2017 season.
The 34-year-old from Portadown in Northern Ireland will race the latest incarnation of the WSR-designed-and-built BMW 125i M Sport, which won both the Teams’ and Constructors’/Manufacturers’ titles last year.
The relationship between Turkington and WSR has been one of the most successful in BTCC history. It began with his debut season in 2002 and has run to over nine seasons in three separate stints with the team.
In that time, the partnership has scored 30 race wins, 86 podium finishes, eight Independents’ titles. But most significant of all was the overall Drivers’ Championship in 2009 and a driver-and-team double title in 2014.
The partnership even extended to limited rounds of the WTCC running one of the S2000 BMW’s the team used to run in the BTCC. From 2007 until 2012 they competed in selcted races, taking a podium on their debut at Brands Hatch with a win at Okayama, Japan in 2010
Turkington joins 2013 champion Andrew Jordan in the team. Between them they have won 57 races, scored 163 podiums and three drivers titles between them.
The team’s third driver will be announced soon, with current internet rumours putting Last season’s WSR driver Rob Collard as favourite to return to the team for another season. Turkington spoke about rejoingi the team where he’s won two BTCC drivers championship titles.
“It feels fantastic to re-join WSR for the 2017 season and I couldn’t be more excited about my return. From my debut in touring cars in 2002 right through to winning my second BTCC title, it’s been like a second home for me and my greatest achievements in motor racing have all come with them.
Combining our accumulated rear-wheel-drive expertise and strong work ethic is a recipe for success and I’m confident this gives me the perfect opportunity to fight for honours once again. I’m particularly looking forward to driving the BMW 125i M Sport and feel the developments that have come about since 2014.”
Dick Bennetts, WSR Team Principal, said: “It’s great have Colin back for 2017. His performances with various WSR BMWs have been extremely strong and he’s been a key part of our most successful seasons in the BTCC in 2009 and 2014.
“There’s definitely a sense of unfinished business as, despite our intentions, commercial reasons meant we weren’t able to stay together to defend our championships. We now head into 2017 with a very strong driver line-up, and we’re aiming for more titles.”
We’ll bring you news of the team’s third driver when we get it. By Marc Waller
