Turkington: “I’d have loved to have been back…”

Colin Turkington says he’d loved to have been back in the BTCC this year, but looks forward to the new opportunity to race again in the WTCC.

Colin spoke to TouringCarTimes about how the move to the WTCC for three races has come about.

TcT: What’s come about to see this move into the WTCC from the British championship?

“It was clear that we weren’t going to be able to put a full season together in British Touring Car. I’d have loved to have been back in British Touring cars to defend my title – but it wasn’t meant to be.”

“The sponsorship came through a lot a hard work – like most of the time, it all comes through in a rush. The sponsors we have were more keen to do World Touring
cars – and from a personal point of view, I was also keen to experience a bit more of the World championship.”

“With the opportunity to do a few races – we just thought it would be a good idea to do something different.”

TcT: Last time out in the WTCC, you finished on the podium in your first race at a circuit you know well – are you hoping for similar results this time out?

“I don’t really know what to expect this time – I’m going to the meetings with every confidence that we as a team will perform well. Looking at the races from this year, it looks like it’s going to be a very tough job to mix it with the Chevrolet’s and the SEAT’s.”

“It’s a toe in the water experience – we’re going to try our best and do as well as possible…but everything appears to have moved on from 2007…the cars have got faster – and I’ll be driving the exact same car that I drove in 2007.”

TcT: With this move being a precursor to looking for a full time drive in the WTCC next year, do you think this might be an end of your time in the BTCC?

“I would never close the door on British Touring Cars, it still is one of the best championships in the world – if I got the opportunity to go back there next year I
would jump at it. The only reason I wasn’t back this year was because the sponsorship and the backing wasn’t there to do it. ”

“We’ll see what happens at the end of this year, but I’m open to both.”

TcT: Are WSR looking to move up with you to the WTCC next year, or are they just onboard for these few races?

“WSR are very much in the same boat – they’re fully committed to the British Touring Car Championship, and have been since 2001 and I can’t see that changing, but also they’re like me in that they’d also like to broaden their horizons a bit – it does no harm for the team to have more experience in World Touring Cars.”

TcT: You & WSR presumably aren’t at the next round at Zolder due to the date clash with the BTCC race at Croft. How does WSR not being able to run in both series affect the possibility of racing later in the year?

“There’s two more that clash, Germany & Spain – but we’re very keen on doing the last two in Japan and Macau – so we’ve got our eye on those as well.”

“It’ll be great to go back there (Macau) and see if we can improve on the results from last time.”

TcT: Were you looking at any other opportunities during the off season that nearly came about?

“I spoke to a few of the top few teams in British Touring Cars, and a few others in World Touring Cars, but the right deal just didn’t come together.”

“Meanwhile, West Surrey were always working away, trying to find the sponsorship to get back out on the grid.”

Colin and the West Surrey Racing team will join the WTCC grid at Portimao on July 4th.