Cars

Double-champ Turkington seeking drive for 2017

Portadown racer and double British Touring Car champion Colin Turkington, pictured at the wheel of his 2014 title-winning BMW, is seeking a new drive for 2017
Portadown racer and double British Touring Car champion Colin Turkington, pictured at the wheel of his 2014 title-winning BMW, is seeking a new drive for 2017 Portadown racer and double British Touring Car champion Colin Turkington, pictured at the wheel of his 2014 title-winning BMW, is seeking a new drive for 2017

DOUBLE touring car champion Colin Turkington has parted company with Team BMR, meaning he won't be at the wheel of the team's Subaru Levorg in this year's British Touring Car Championship.

The 34-year-old Portadown driver, who won the BTCC title in 2009 and 2014, is rumoured to make a return to his former West Surrey Racing team; it campaigns a BMW 125i in the championship.

He spent two seasons driving for the time, first in a Volkswagen CC and then in the Subaru, winning the 'Independents Championship' title - his fifth - in his first year.

Team BMR owner - and driver - Warren Scott said it had been an "absolute pleasure" to work with Turkington.

"I wish Colin good luck for the forth coming season and would like to thank him for all his efforts and great achievements that he has brought to BMR."

Turkington said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his time Team BMR and that he would "savour the success we shared together over the past two seasons".

He won nine races, was on the podium 18 times and secured five pole positions in his time with the team.

"However, the time has come to part company and apply the focus to each of our own individual goals and needs," he said.

"I sincerely value the journey we have shared together securing the Teams Championship in 2015, winning my fifth Indy title and of course the thrilling year we have just had with the Subaru Levorg.

"I have been fortunate to work with some of the best in the business at BMR and it has been a valuable experience and certainly helped me grow and improve.

"The BTCC is surely one of the toughest Championships in the world to win and to finish last season with a realistic shot at winning the title in a new car was a tremendous achievement."

Turkington is the only Northern Ireland driver to have been BTCC champion, winning in 2009 at the wheel of a BMW 320si and in 2014 with another BMW, a 125i M Sport. Dubliner Alec Poole is Ireland's other BTCC winner, claiming the 1969 championship in a Mini Cooper S.

Speaking at the Autosport International motorsport show in Birmingham last month, he said: "Number one in any driver's mind is putting yourself in the most competitive car, the best team - you have to give yourself the best chance to win. That's my focus right now.

"I'll continue to work hard over the next few weeks to make something happen."