Colin Turkington aiming to use hybrid system to get back into title fight

Team BMW’s Colin Turkington is hoping to use the British Touring Car Championship’s Hybrid Energy Management system to play himself back into the title fight in the second half of the 2024 campaign.

The Northern Irishman sits sixth overall in the drivers’ championship after the first 15 races, 65 points behind WSR stable-mate Jake Hill.

After a strong start to the season, with a brace of victories at the second event at Brands Hatch, the four-time champion’s results have cooled in recent events, as despite scoring regular points, Turkington has finished no higher than seventh in the past nine races.

The 42-year-old is, however, the BTCC’s most winning driver at Croft, having claimed a total of 14 wins at the North Yorkshire circuit, including a win in race three last year.

He is therefore hoping to play to his strengths this weekend and close in the points deficit to the top of the table.

Sitting sixth in the standings means Turkington has 11 seconds of hybrid available per lap in qualifying, along with six laps of boost for the opening race of the day on Sunday.

“The mid-season break was a welcomed hiatus from the full-on BTCC campaign,” said Turkington. “It’s been great to properly reset and really get back into the groove for the second half of the season.

“It wasn’t easy taking those few knocks over the more recent rounds, and not getting the rewards for our efforts, but our strength will be shown in how we respond.

“We have 15 races still to come and so much can happen in that space of time. The new rules and impact of the Hybrid Energy Management system should allow me to play myself back into the title fight and hopefully get on the tails of those in front.

“To do that we need to take the package to the next level consistently from here on in to have a chance of contention and that’s what we’re gunning for!

“I’m hoping for some better luck and looking forward to getting our second half fired up this weekend.

“Croft has always been a favourite circuit of mine and our pace in the BMW has always been strong there. Let’s go!”