Colin Turkington heads into the second half of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship season well placed in both the Independents' and overall championship standings after three wins in the opening half of the year.
Crash.net took time to speak to the Team RAC driver about his season so far..
Crash.net:
Half the season gone Colin. How do you feel its gone?
Colin Turkington:
I'm happy. It's been a mixed start to the season, we've had three wins and some strong weekends especially the last two but we've had some weekends where the car hasn't worked so well. At
Donington Park there was a massive amount of rain on the track and we didn't get the performance we hoped for. All in all though, we are still in contention for both championships at the half way point.
Crash.net:
People said the
BMW couldn't win in the wet and then you took two wins at
Croft. How much of a boost was that to your chances?
Colin Turkington:
Massive. It was my most successful weekend in the BTCC points wise and there were the two wins. It was unexpected and I think us BMW drivers fear the worst when we hear it will be wet. It worked at Croft though and the car seems to work in the wet on a grippy track, but Donington was low grip and when it rained there, none of the BMW drivers really performed. It depends on the circuit.
Crash.net:
Team-mate Stephen Jelley has come over from F3 this season, How do you feel he has settled into touring cars and how well are you working together?
Colin Turkington:
Stephen has plenty of experience but all of it is in the opposite side of things in single-seaters so I guess the advantage for him is being in rear-wheel drive as he knows it. It's a massively different task for him as he isn't used to feeling the car move around so much and isnt used to the closeness and the contact you have in the BTCC. He is coping well and is progressing in each event and I feel he will be up there with me in the second half of the season.
Crash.net:
What is achievable in the second half of the season?
Colin Turkington:
Most importantly, we want to try and defend the independents title but I want to also win the overall title. Whether this is the year or not, I don't know, as Fabrizio is quite a bit ahead. But you never know and have to keep trying. he circuits coming up are ones where I went well last year so we are confident for the start of the second half.
Crash.net:
It's pretty close in the battle for he independent title
