Colin Turkington, the 2009 British Touring Car Championship Champion will return to the series in 2013 after rejoining the WSR run eBay Motors team.
The Northern Irishman, who secured the title with the team at the wheel of a BMW 320si returns at the wheel of a NGTC Specification BMW 125i and will be joined by Rob Collard and Nick Foster.
Since winning the title in 2009, Turkington has had sporadic outings in the World Touring Car Championship with WSR, winning one race at Okayama in the BMW 320si, while 2011 saw him compete in the Swedish Touring Car Championship with Flash Engineering. The 2011 STCC campaign was Turkington’s last full campaign since his 2009 Championship success.
“I’m really excited to be back in the BTCC with eBay Motors for the 2013 season,” explains Turkington. “I have a long relationship with WSR and we’ve experienced some great success together in both the BTCC and WTCC. I am hoping to bring that success once again this year. Getting behind the wheel of the NGTC specification BMW will be a new challenge and I can’t wait to be back on the grid at Brands Hatch on 31st March.”
For Collard, the announcement sees him heading into his fourth campaign back with WSR, having rejoined the team in time for the 2010 campaign. 2012 saw Collard have his most successful season to date as he secured three victories en route to finishing fifth overall.
Collard has raced alongside Turkington before, having been team-mates in 2006 when the team ran the BTC Specification MG ZS under the Team RAC name.
“Colin and I raced together in 2006 and his addition to the team sees us look stronger than ever. I hope to build on last year’s strong performances and will be looking to win races in the new BMW 125i M Sport,” added Collard.
Having joined the team for the 2011 campaign, Foster heads into his third campaign in the BTCC and is looking to learn from both Turkington and Collard in 2013, as he looks to secure his first win in the series.
“It’s going to be fantastic having Rob and Colin as teammates this year. I’m looking forward to learning from both of them to building on my success with the eBay Motors team,” added Foster, who finished the 2012 campaign 11th overall.
With the announcement that Turkington is rejoining the team, eBay Motors Team Principal Dick Bennetts believes that the teams’ 2013 driver line up is capable of challenging for Championship honours.
“It’s really great to have Colin back on board for the 2013 BTCC season. With Rob, Nick and now Colin, I believe eBay Motors have a very strong driver line-up capable of challenging for Championship honours,” added the popular Kiwi.
eBay Motors are heading into their fourth season with WSR and with the announcement of Turkington joining Collard and Foster in the teams’ NGTC 1 Series BMW’s, the 2013 season promises to be the most exciting for the team.
“We are excited at the prospect of a fourth BTCC season and wish our drivers and all the team the very best for the challenging and thrilling season that lays ahead,” concluded eBay’s Head of Hard Goods (Motoring & Electronics) Andrew Hooks.
The opening rounds of the 2013 British Touring Car Championship take place at Brands Hatch, Kent on the 31 March while the official Media Day takes place at Donington Park, Leicestershire/Derbyshire on the 21 March.