Reigning champion Colin Turkington says he is “really pleased” to have secured the first pole position for the new-for-2019 BMW 330i M Sport, especially after admitting his lap was “far from perfect.”
Turkington was keen to bank a lap early on in the session, and topped the times twice – improving to a 1:09.871 lap after having his first time stripped for infringing track limits.
Given the ever-changing conditions, Turkington said setting an early representative lap was his priority, and that his effort “didn’t feel like a pole lap” because of the slippy conditions in the half hour session.
“Really pleased to get the first pole and show the pace we have in the car, albeit in a very mixed and difficult session,” said Turkington.
“I think I got my lap in obviously at the right time, at the beginning of the session. I was conscious to push straight away because the clouds were threatening.
“It wasn’t an easy lap – it didn’t feel like a pole lap – because I was really fighting the car.
“I was surprised when I saw the time because it was far from a perfect lap. But I think the conditions made it very difficult for everybody.”
Turkington was open at the season-opener in admitting he hadn’t quite found the sweet spot of the new BMW 3 Series, but he feels he made progress “in his direction” at the Thruxton test last week.
“I’m feeling happier with the car all the time, especially after the Thruxton test, I think we learnt some things and moved the car in my direction,” explained Turkington.
“Tomorrow again will be almost a new experience because we had a handful of laps there in the dry but we don’t know too much about the car in the dry.
“But I’ll do my best with it.”
Turkington will start the opening race at Donington Park tomorrow [28 April] from pole position, which is scheduled to get underway at 11:35 BST.