Four-time British Touring Car Champion Colin Turkington has confirmed that he won’t be on the grid in 2025, ending a run of 12 consecutive seasons in the championship.
Turkington, 42, put out a statement on Friday evening announcing that for a number of reasons he would not be back in the BTCC in 2025.
The Northern Irishman has been a BMW-backed driver since 2017 and has clinched all of his BTCC titles in cars built by the Munich manufacturer.
He remained as a title contender in recent seasons, ultimately finishing each of the last three campaigns in fourth overall, having added more race victories to take his total tally to 72.
The 2009, 2014, 2018 and 2019 champion admits that he doesn’t yet know if this will be the end of his illustrious touring car career.
“I know this won’t be the news that so many are waiting for, but today I can confirm I will not be competing in the BTCC in 2025,” said Turkington.
“There is not one single reason for this, simply a combination of factors and feelings that has helped me make this decision.
“For now, I don’t know if that is it for good – but I look back with huge pride at the amazing career I’ve had since debuting as a fresh-faced teenager from Northern Ireland in 2002.
“I cannot imagine having sacrificed any more or working any harder, leaving me with absolutely no regrets. Sustaining the highest level of performance and consistency and winning for the teams I’ve raced for is what’s driven me and the successes I’m most proud of.
“I don’t have too much more to say at this point except that this decision just feels right for me. I reflect on so many amazing memories and life experiences that only the BTCC could have given me.
“Thank you to the BTCC, thank you BMW and thank you to WSR. Thank you to all my mechanics and engineers for always given me 100% and believing in me.
“Thank you to all my loyal supporters, incredible sponsors and partners who’ve shared the journey with me and finally, thank you to my family who have been on this emotional rollercoaster with me.
“Driving into parc ferme and seeing the happy faces on Mum and Dad, Louise [wife], Lewis and Adam [his sons] are the memories I cherish most and will take with me forever.
“The BTCC will forever leave an imprint on me, and I now join many of you as an enthusiastic fan of the series once again.
“That’s all for now. I would like to wish Dick [Bennetts] and the entire WSR family the very best of luck in this new season.
“I often say to my boys, ‘Don’t be sad it’s over, just be thankful it happened.’”
WSR Team Principal Dick Bennetts paid tribute to Turkington’s 17 seasons with the team, and admitted he was sad to see the Northern Irishman no longer be part of the team, which has already confirmed Jake Hill, Aiden Moffat and Daryl DeLeon among its 2025 drivers.
“Today we are disappointed to be losing the services of Colin Turkington ahead of the 2025 British Touring Car Championship season,” said Bennetts.
“Colin has come a long way since I first met him in late 2001 just after he’d won the Fiesta Championship as a 19-year-old and is, quite simply, the most successful BTCC driver of his generation.
“Together, he and WSR have created the greatest partnership in the BTCC history with four overall championship titles, four Independents’ crowns and 61 victories (of a career total of 72) achieved together in a variety of car makes and models.
“Taking five race victories in 2024 and winning the Goodyear Wingfoot Award as the year’s best qualifier showed that he remains one of the BTCC’s elite drivers in all aspects.
“It was always our intention to continue our partnership into a ninth consecutive season and a 19th campaign in total. However, despite our best efforts, commercial realities have meant that this has simply not been possible.
“As Colin has said himself today, we should not be sad it’s over but instead be happy it happened at all.
“On behalf of all at WSR, we wish Colin, Louise, Lewis and Adam the very best for the future. The garage just won’t be the same without ‘Team Turkington and his father, Trevor, around and we would be delighted to see Colin back behind the wheel of a WSR race car in the future.”