Stephen Jelley hoping to ‘turn things around’ at Oulton Park

Stephen Jelley is hoping to ‘turn things around’ in this weekend’s British Touring Car Championship races at Oulton Park – historically one of the BMW driver’s strongest circuits – after a disappointing start to the season.

Jelley sits only 17^th in the drivers’ championship standings having managed just two top ten finishes from the first nine races, whilst WSR team-mates Colin Turkington and Jake Hill have both enjoyed numerous podium visits already.

Oulton is, however, a strong circuit for the Leicestershire racer. In 2019 he scored Team Parker Racing’s first BTCC win at the track, which was also Jelley’s first BTCC win since 2009.

Last year, he was in the top ten in all three races, concluding with second in the final race of the weekend.

“Oulton is my favourite track in the UK,” said Jelley. “I’ve won there in almost every category that I’ve raced in, multiple times.

“One of the highlights of my career was taking the first British Touring Car Championship victory for Team Parker. With that success in the past and the fact that the car is performing very well this year, it should be a real high point in the season.

“I’ll be looking to turn things around, and I don’t mean by getting hit in the backside again!”

Jelley has emphasised the importance of qualifying well in securing strong weekend results. The 40-year-old has qualified his BMW 330e M Sport in the top ten in all three qualifying sessions of 2022 thus far.

“The characteristics of the circuit suit me and the car. It’s a place that I enjoy going to, so hopefully we can perform on a track that I like to drive.

“Qualifying is massively important at Oulton because it’s very hard to overtake, especially now with the times being so close, it is incredibly important.”