Q & A with Darren Turner

DT: "It is something I've wanted to do for quite a few seasons now. I've been speaking to Vauxhall for a while. But it really came about at Spa while I was driving for Aston Martin in the Spa 24 Hours. The World Touring Cars were there I walked around the paddock meet people, I met Scott Denis from SEAT UK and we have kept up a dialogue.

"They had a bit of a driver shoot-out and I got to test the car and see what it was like to drive front-wheel drive touring car."

Q. How will British Touring Cars compare to anything else you've driven?

DT: "I've done touring cars in Germany but everything I've done has a lot of power and is completely different to anything else I've done. I'll do lots of testing prior to my first race which is in June testing to enable me to get used to driving a different type of racing car."

"On a race day I am going to do an hour and a bit driving when I'm used to doing about eight hours in a race. So that side is going to be a bit different and adjusting myself to driving flat out for the 20 minute race.

"I've got to push from the word go, although I have to conserve the tyres and that you don't have to do it as much as you do in Touring cars. I need to learn but it's not like I've been employed just to learn. My main aim is to do a job and get SEAT as many points."

Q. So your main target is helping SEAT to the manufacturers' championship?

DT: "That's what I'm there to do. If I'm in a position were I can help Jason Plato win the drivers championship then that's what I will do."

Q. Will you still do the Le Mans 24 hours?

DT: "I'm waiting to find out about my sportscar programme. I can carry on doing what I am doing normally, but I can get my foot in the door with the Touring Car side.

"Aston Martin are finalising the programme at the moment and hopefully I can do that and sort out something. I love driving the sportscars and big events."

Q. What will happen with the Le Mans test day when it clashes with the BTCC?

DT: "It is not a big drama. Sometimes it is more beneficial to keep one driver in there all weekend all day, and you can waste time while someone familiarises themselves with the car all day. I'll just catch up on the week prior to the race."

Q. Can you see yourself driving for a works BTCC team in 2007?

DT: "There isn't a lot of work for professional drivers out there and there are a lot of drivers going for the same job. I have a lot of sportscars under my belt. I don't know where I want to go in 2007. If a great touring car opportunity comes up then great, and if a great sportscar experience comes up then I can consider that as well."