BTCC champion Colin Turkington penalised and rolls in China outing
British Touring Car champion Colin Turkington's cameo in the Chinese Touring Car Championship at Wuhan was ruined by a roll and a drivethrough penalty in the two races
Turkington, who had travelled to the Far East with his regular WSR engineer John Waterman, had qualified his SAIC Volkswagen 333 Team Lamando machine fastest but pulled the reversed grid number of eight out of the hat.
That meant he started mid-pack in race one, and he was involved in a first-lap pile-up at a hairpin, which rolled his car onto its roof at slow speed.
The chaos also accounted for fellow visiting Briton Adam Morgan, whose BAIC Senova D50 as too badly damaged to continue.
The race was eventually won by Kia driver Alex Fontana.
"I was fine [physically], but I was a bit peeved," said Turkington. "I didn't much enjoy being upside down, but at least I was able to get out of the car OK."
Turkington's team-mate Zhang Zhen Dong claimed the Chinese Touring Car title with second place in the second race at Wuhan.
He followed SAIC Volkswagen 333 Racing team-mate Rodolfo Avila across the line.
Morgan pulled off a succession of late-race passes to claim the third spot.
Turkington, who was on pole, was hit with a drivethrough penalty after he crept at the start of the second race.
Soon after the getaway, Turkington dropped back to allow his team-mate Avila ahead before he was forced to take his halt.
He rejoined in 13th and battled back to ninth spot at the flag.
"The car crept when I first loaded it up on the clutch, then I stopped," said Turkington. "I was still behind my line.
"I let Rudolfo through to give him the lead, then a few laps later, they gave me the drivethrough."
Turkington said he would use the knowledge gained in China for a headstart in 2020.
"That's it for the year for me now - and I am so ready for the break. It was another useful experience in China and I can store that up in my 2020 bank for the new BTCC season.
"The races just didn't go my way but we made the car one of the fastest out there and I am pleased that my team-mate was able to claim the championship.
"I look forward to racing in China again, should I get the chance."
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Motorbase signs Independents Trophy champion Butcher
BTCC 2020: Ollie Jackson to race newly built Motorbase Ford Focus RS
The final-race twist that capped a decade of BTCC drama
Turkington gets new BMW engine for 2024 BTCC title attack
BTCC star Turkington eyes further club outings after Silverstone Mazda races
The rollercoaster ride of West Surrey Racing's 40 years
How a BTCC reunion yielded glory in Britain's 'other' tin-top series
Leading BTCC outfit BTC gets new name and expands into GT racing
The grassroots rise that shaped an understated BTCC star
Magazine: The potential shocks to come in F1's 2025 driver market
Williams may as well “go home” if spares situation changes its F1 approach, says Albon
Aston Martin ‘not convinced’ Alonso would definitely want to stay in F1
Porsche lodges appeal over da Costa's Misano Formula E disqualification
How Ingram is seeking to reclaim the BTCC crown from Sutton
The tin-top world champion seeking to tick a "missing box" in the BTCC
How a BTCC Alliance swept the field away in 2023
How a top-down overhaul formed the basis of Sutton's 2023 BTCC dominance
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments