Colin Turkington – On racing, life at university, and much much more - 07/04/04

Colin Turkington is entering his third season in the BTCC this year. He remains with West Surrey Racing and will be looking to capitalize on the progress that the team have made with the car and engine over the winter.

Over the last two years, Colin has shown himself to be a real talent behind the wheel, with his first race win proving very popular when it came at Brands Hatch last year.

As well as driving in the BTCC, Colin is currently studying for a degree at Stirling University. Ahead of the new season, we caught up with him to find out how it all fits together...

BTCCPages.com : Did 2003 exceed your expectations at the beginning of the season?
CT : I don't think I exceeded my expectations, rather met them. At the start of the year I was unsure how successful I could be, but one goal I set was to win a race. I achieved this at Brands Hatch, but in general the second half of the season was fantastic for me.

BTCCPages.com : Did your win feel the same as winning in the Fiestas or did it feel more special because it was in the top series of it's kind in the UK?
CT : Winning the Fiesta Championship was very special to me. Not only did it provide the springboard to Touring cars but most importantly I had so much fun in the car. They may not have been fast, but they were amazing to drive.

BTCCPages.com : You were on a great run of form as the season ended. Did that help keep you motivated during the off season, determined to begin 2004 in the same way?
CT : Being given the opportunity to race a touring car is enough motivation for me. This was my dream and no matter how good or bad the weekend is going, it's easy to keep smiling.

BTCCPages.com : The MG ZS was often regarded as having the best chassis in the BTCC field, do you think the new K 2000 engine is the missing link to making it a title contender rather than just an occasional race winner?
CT : I think if you look at the second half of last year, the MG had the potential to win at every meeting. The V6 was very competitive but now it's at the end of its development potential. Development of the K2000 engine has been very exciting, and early tests indicate that it's going to be quick. The four cylinder engine is much lighter than the V6, so this has obvious advantages.

BTCCPages.com : You've tested the new engine at Thruxton already. Is that a circuit which will suit it and are you confident of good results there at the first meeting?
CT : I think Thruxton is a circuit that identifies any weaknesses in a package. I was amazed how well the car was working there, so obviously I'm looking forward to the first meeting.

"My goal for the season is to win races. If I concentrate on this a good championship position will follow."

BTCCPages.com : What are your aims for the new season?
CT : My goal for the season is to win races. If I concentrate on this a good championship position will follow.

BTCCPages.com : What do you think of the new three race format and reversed grids for 2004?
CT : I'm all in favour of it; don't know about my mechanics though! The more time I get to spend in the car the better. Reversed grids will certainly provide more entertainment for spectators, who are of course the key element to the success of the series.

BTCCPages.com : Is there one track you are looking forward to in 2004 more than any other?
CT : Not really. Every event has equal points up for grabs, so we want to be quick at them all. Once we have established the optimum setup on the car, it should be quick everywhere.

BTCCPages.com : Did you learn a lot from your vastly experienced teammates in 2003?
CT : For a relatively new driver to be paired with Warren Hughes and Anthony Reid was a perfect situation. I was like a sponge all year, learning everything I could. We had a great time together and I would love to work with these guys again.

BTCCPages.com : You raced an MG TF in a guest appearance in the MG Mayflower Trophy at Knockhill last year. Did you enjoy it and is it something you'd like to do again?
CT : I get a buzz from racing any car and the MG TF was no different. It was the first time I had raced a rear wheel drive car, and I'll admit there was the odd spin, but I had a great laugh. I'm keen to race any car!

BTCCPages.com : Being one of the few BTCC drivers juggling an education with a driving career, how hard is it to do both?
CT : Stirling University prides itself on being flexible, although I think I bend the rules a bit too far. The Business degree is mainly common sense and can be self-taught.

BTCCPages.com : Do you get recognised more at university because of your racing and the publicity it gets?
CT : I don't think I've ever been recognized at university because of the racing, which is great. It's nice to be able to relax and fit in like any other student.

"I don't think I've ever been recognized at university because of the racing...it's nice to be able to relax and fit in like any other student."

BTCCPages.com : Is the off season as bad for a driver as it is for a fan and how do you cope with it?
CT : It's terrible! The first few weekends after the season is over are the worst. I think it's important to have other interests to occupy the winter, which is why being at university is great. Any free weekends I spend playing sport or hanging out with my mates.

BTCCPages.com : Finally, two of the three Turkington brothers have become racing drivers. Do you think we'll see your younger brother James follow in yourself and Gary's wheel-tracks in the future and would you welcome the competition?
CT : I think it would be great if he did, but at the moment football is the main interest for him. There is no pressure for James to do it and I think he gets as much enjoyment from spectating at the races as he would from competing. He is a very useful spy on a race weekend! He can beat me on Playstation 2, but I would never let it happen on the circuit!