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Turkington will not play it safe

Colin Turkington will not be content just to settle for points at Brands Hatch this weekend as he bids to win the British Touring Car Championship for the first time

The WSR BMW driver, who has won six times this year, leads Fabrizio Giovanardi and Jason Plato by 13 and 28 points respectively in the title battle with 52 points up for grabs in the three remaining races.

While the Northern Irishman only needs to finish on the tail of Giovanardi's Vauxhall to seal the title, he believes that getting himself to the head of the pack is the best way to stave off danger.

"There are so many other quick cars out there that it's always difficult just to score points," said Turkington, who will, as series leader, have to carry 45kg of success ballast at Brands.

"I can't afford just to settle for points, because there are too many guys out there who want to take them away from you, and that's when you start getting in among the rough and tumble of the BTCC midfield. I've got to take every opportunity that comes my way."

Turkington believes that Plato remains just as much of a threat for the title as Giovanardi, despite the RML Chevrolet driver lying 15 points further back in the championship than the Italian.

"The Chevy will be very quick around Brands, and he has 18kg less ballast to carry than me. Both he and Fabrizio are just as aware of their positions as I am," Turkington added.

"As long as both have a chance of winning the title though, they're both as big a threat as each other. I just have to focus on doing the job I need to in order to get things settled."

Turkington said that the excellent form of his WSR team-mate Stephen Jelley in recent rounds has been a big help to his title aspirations.

"Well at Silverstone he got in between me and Fabrizio, which was obviously to my advantage.

"Then with him winning twice at Rockingham, and getting a fastest lap, it prevented the others from getting maximum scores, which helped me too, but in a different way. I'm sure he'll do all he can to help our push this weekend."

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