Even with a difficult start to the season for Silverline Subaru BMR, who debuted the new Levorg for their assault on the British Touring Car Championship as a works entry, two-time champion Colin Turkington will be looking to build on the run of form that he has had this season.
The Ulsterman is the best-placed of the quartet of BMR drivers, 37 points adrift of leader Sam Tordoff, and admits that he will keep fighting for a third title until the end of the final race on Sunday afternoon at Brands Hatch.
“I’m aiming to build on what we’ve got. Although I’m regarded as an outside contender for the title, it’s still pretty impressive that we are involved in the season showdown,” said Turkington, who praised the efforts by all of Warren Scott’s outfit for the hard work that they have put in.
“Even in a ‘normal’ Championship year to arrive at Brands with a shout of the crown is always the goal. To achieve that in our first season with the Subaru is a great reward for everyone involved. To be in the Championship fight despite the challenges we faced early on is amazing.”
BMR have clearly had some very public issues with the new Levorg, including the withdrawal from Thruxton on safety grounds concerning the engine inlet manifold.
Nevertheless, the car has quickly developed into a stern challenger for the likes of Halfords Yuasa Racing and West Surrey Racing, with Turkington taking the team’s first win at Oulton Park.
“It was only six months ago at Brands Hatch that my car turned a wheel for the first time so to return there as a Championship contender is an enormous confidence boost,” he explained, as the Levorg was unveiled at the customary Media Day, but did not run on début.
Turkington has also got a wealth of experience and memories at the Kent-based track, having taken both titles there with West Surrey Racing in 2009 and 2014.
But the question remains as to whether a Subaru powers a driver to a title win for the first time in the BTCC.