BTCC 2017: Turkington wants quick resolution after Team BMR split
Colin Turkington says he wants to secure his British Touring Car Championship future in "the next few weeks", following his exit from Team BMR
Two-time champion Turkington's split with the squad after two seasons emerged on Friday, having finished fourth last year in its new-for-2016 Subaru Levorg.
Turkington has been heavily linked with a return to the WSR BMW outfit, with which he won his 2009 and 2014 titles, and acknowledged that the "rumour mill is obviously going".
"My exit from BMR was only yesterday, so I need some time to absorb the news, and work out the next path," he said at Autosport International on Saturday.
"Number one in any driver's mind is putting yourself in the most-competitive car, the best team - you have to give yourself the best chance to win.
"That's my focus right now.
"I'll continue to work hard over the next few weeks to make something happen."
WSR has already recruited Andrew Jordan to drive one of its 125i M Sports this year, with its 2016 series runner-up Sam Tordoff switching to British GT.
Turkington played down the prospect of spending 2017 on the sidelines, having been squeezed out of the BTCC for three seasons after winning his first title in 2009.
"I've made a good job of that in the past, making the right move at the right time," he said.
"I've been in this position a few times before and it's always turned out OK for me.
"I want to definitely stay in BTCC, I love the championship, I grew up watching it.
"I still want to be there competing and winning, I've still got the hunger for it."
2017 BTCC LINE-UP SO FAR
AmD Tuning Audi S3 Saloon
Ollie Jackson, Ant Whorton-Eales
BTC Racing Chevrolet Cruze
Chris Smiley, Dave Newsham
Ciceley Racing Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Adam Morgan
Eurotech Racing Honda Civic Type-R
Jeff Smith, TBA
Handy Motorsport Toyota Avensis
Rob Austin
Laser Tools Racing Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Aiden Moffat
Maximum Motorsport Ford Focus
TBA
Motorbase Performance Ford Focus
Mat Jackson, Luke Davenport, Martin Depper
Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra
Tom Chilton, Senna Proctor
Speedworks Toyota Avensis
Tom Ingram
Team BMR Subaru Levorg
TBA, TBA, TBA, TBA
Team Dynamics Honda Civic Type-R
Gordon Shedden, Matt Neal, Matt Simpson
Team Hard VW CC
Will Burns, Michael Epps, TBA
Team Parker Ford Focus
TBA
Triple Eight MG MG6
TBA, TBA
WSR BMW 125i M Sport
Andrew Jordan, TBA, TBA
Previous article
Colin Turkington leaves Team BMR Subaru BTCC team
Next article
BTCC 2017: Jack Goff moves from WSR BMW to Eurotech Honda squad
BTCC: Oulton Park Race 3 in 75 seconds
BTCC: Brands Hatch Race 3 in 60 seconds
BTCC: Brands Hatch Race 2 in 80 seconds
BTCC: Brands Hatch Race 1 in 80 seconds
BTCC: Thruxton Race 3 in 90 seconds
The increasingly varied CV behind a new BTCC title challenger
A driver with limited funds behind him, it’s been a tough road to the top of the British Touring Car Championship for Jake Hill. Now he’s a title contender, accomplished historic racer and in-demand coach. It’s a great life for this self-confessed motorsport junkie
The outright tin-top wins achieved by a forgotten tin-top great
Already established as a formidable force in the British Saloon Car Championship, the Triumph Dolomite became a legend in 1977 when Tony Dron's Broadspeed machine frequently embarrassed the mighty Capris
Five key plotlines to follow in the 2021 BTCC
It’s been a busy silly season in the BTCC since the chequered flag fell to end the 2020 campaign last November. While last year’s top two have stayed put, there’s plenty of talking points elsewhere, which should result in another fascinating year of tin-top action
The giantkilling 'dad and lad' operation taking on the BTCC's best
The Lancashire squad of Ciceley Motorsport has been a BTCC race winner for several years with Adam Morgan and Mercedes. But the switch to WSR-built BMWs and addition of Tom Chilton as a true barometer for Morgan should see the team step up into title contention
How a returning champion is feeling at home again in the BTCC
After topping the times at the end of British Touring Car Championship pre-season testing, it feels like Gordon Shedden has never been away. But after plenty of changes behind the scenes, the three-time champion is bedding himself in to pick up where he left off
Why a BTCC legend remains defiant at '97 not out'
After a year of enforced absence from the British Touring Car Championship grid, Jason Plato is back and hungrier than ever. Despite stellar opposition and some familiar challenges, the two-time champion still has his eyes focused on the biggest prizes
How Ingram's clean slate can end his BTCC title wait
After seven years together, Tom Ingram and Speedworks Motorsport have amicably split and gone down separate paths for the 2021 BTCC season. With engineer Spencer Aldridge joining him at the Excelr8 Motorsport Hyundai squad, Ingram is confident he can challenge for titles from the off
How the unlikely Capri-slaying Dolomite triumphed against adversary
The Dolomite Sprint was a potent giantkilling weapon during the 1970s in the British Saloon Car Championship, now known as the BTCC. Tin-top legend Andy Rouse explains how it became such a force
