As Colin Turkington lines up on the grid in his Team RAC MG ZS for the second race at Brands Hatch, he will be celebrating 100 BTCC race starts. With RAC having provided the UK motoring public with over a century of automotive expertise, Colin is hot on their heals and talks about reaching his milestone, which will not pass by unnoticed!

Colin started his BTCC career on 21 April, 2002 at Oulton Park at the age of 20. Driving an MG ZS for Team Atomic Kitten it was quite a debut with the girl group joining him on the grid for the opening race.

With the team disbanded at the end of the season Colin joined the MG manufacturer team alongside Warren Hughes and BTCC veteran Anthony Reid for the 2003 season. It was at the fourth meeting of the season at Silverstone where Colin secured third place and the first podium finish for the MG Sport & Racing team. Later that year he achieved his first race win at Brands Hatch and impressed ITV to become their 'Driver of the Day'. Another podium finish at the final meeting at Oulton Park acknowledged that Colin Turkington was developing into a promising touring car driver.

In 2004, a new K2000 engine for the MG ZS and Independent Team status for WSR beckoned. It wasn't long before Colin was on the pace securing his first ever BTCC pole position during the second meeting of the season at Brands Hatch. With numerous podium finishes and a victory on home soil in Mondello Colin finished the Championship in 6th place, his best finish to date.

For the 2005 season Colin joined the VX Racing team. Changing team and a new car provided a tough challenge for the Irishman and it proved to be a difficult season despite securing a pole position at the opening round and two race wins.

Now back at WSR with the new Team RAC outfit, Colin's looking forward to adding to his race win tally. He looks back on his career so far.

What do you remember about your BTCC debut?

Lining up on the grid with top touring car drivers like David Leslie, Anthony Reid and James Thompson was just amazing and a dream come true. It was a whole new experience for me as previously I had competed in the Fiesta series where I was an unknown face. It felt slightly strange when people started to recognise me in the street.

What has been your career highlight so far?

I think it has to be at Mondello in 2004 when in front of a home crowd I won my second BTCC race. For the previous two years I didn't race at the circuit due to health and then mechanical problems. When I finally got to race there it was a little unfamiliar to me. When I won and stood on the podium surrounded by familiar faces it was just fantastic.

What are your ambitions for this year's BTCC and beyond?

Keep going until I win! It's simple really and I've just got to keep trying and do my best.

Team RAC principal Dick Bennetts has worked with Colin for the majority of the Irishman's BTCC career, bar his 2005 season with VX Racing. Dick explains how a shy, retiring, 20-year-old has become one of BTCC's stars: "Colin's improved immensely as a driver over the past three years on his overall feel for a car and in his technical feedback. He's still on a learning curve and I think we need to toughen him up a little this season to keep him ahead of his more bullish competitors. He's got all the natural attributes you look for in a driver and certainly has the potential to become a future champion."

Shaun Meadows, RAC marketing director is delighted that Colin Turkington is firmly in the driving seat for Team RAC. He said: "Having been Colin's first passenger for the season I can say his driving is just awesome. The whole of RAC is behind the Team and this celebration is very apt for us as RAC has been supporting motorists for over 100 years."