Colin Turkington first raced in the BTCC in 2002 after winning the Ford Credit Fiesta Zetec Championship. For his initial three seasons, the Northern Irishman competed for West Surrey Racing in an MG ZS. A single campaign with VX Racing followed in 2005, before Turkington returned to WSR in 2006. Turkington’s potential was realised in 2009, as he piloted his BMW to six victories and the overall Drivers’ crown.
His success made Turkington the only Ulsterman ever to win the BTCC. From 2010-12, he contested World Touring Car and Scandinavian Touring Car events before making a return to home turf in 2013. Behind the wheel of a brand new WSR BMW 1 Series, Turkington claimed his second title in 2014. The following year, he joined Team BMR, notching four victories en route to fourth in the standings and the fifth Independents’ Trophy of his career.
2016 saw BMR running a quartet of all-new Subaru Levorg GTs, Colin took five race wins that season placing fourth overall. Turkington returned to West Surrey Racing for 2017 securing four victories. Despite a valiant effort, he couldn’t unseat Ashley Sutton from the top of the standings, concluding the season as runner-up.
The Northern Irishman’s only victory of the 2018 season came at Oulton Park, but with the wins shared between a record 17 different drivers, consistency proved to be king and Turkington came out on top to seal his third Drivers’ title. For 2019, Turkington returned looking to seal a record-equalling fourth Drivers’ crown. He did just that, taking five victories finishing just two points ahead of Andrew Jordan and Dan Cammish after a tense title-decider at Brands Hatch GP.
Heading into 2020 as the joint-most successful driver in BTCC history, Turkington secured more podium finishes than any of his rivals, but an unfortunate trio of points-less finishes hampered his chances of a fifth title during an incredibly competitive year. The Northern Irishman did, however, clinch the first-ever Goodyear Wingfoot Award during the campaign, thanks to his consistently impressive performance in qualifying.
Turkington continued with Team BMW for his 17th BTCC campaign, alongside team-mates Tom Oliphant and Stephen Jelley, tallying eight podium finishes and clinching his 60th victory in the series during Donington Park’s penultimate race weekend.
In 2022, Turkington made a strong campaign for the championship, taking a trio of victories, nine further podium finishes, three pole positions – more than any other driver on the grid – plus four fastest laps. Despite his strong showing, the fierce competition kept the 40-year-old outside of the top three, and Turkington concluded the season fourth overall.
Hoping consistency will prove key, the Northern Irishman sticks with Team BMW for the 2024 campaign, as he continues his pursuit of a record fifth title.
