Colin Turkington returns to the driving seat of his Team BMW 3 Series this weekend, as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship commences its 2020 season at Donington Park (1/2 August).
The reigning champion is feeling confident for the upcoming campaign following testing and a change in team personnel, which sees engineer John Waterman partner the Northern-Irishman.
Here's what Turkington had to say about the season ahead...
HOW DOES THE RETURN OF COMPETITIVE MOTORSPORT FEEL?
"It feels so good to finally go racing again! You can test and prepare all day long, but the buzz of competition and the excitement the BTCC brings is hard to find anywhere else! The return of the series is going to entertain a lot of people over the next few months. It’s going to be as competitive as ever and the racing should be worth the wait."
HOW DID THE RECENT TESTING PLAY OUT?
"The testing programme we completed the past few weeks has been fantastic for bringing the team back together and provided some valuable seat time. We had perfect conditions for our recent test at Silverstone and I left there feeling confident in the car and ready for competition. I've also spent a considerable amount of time out at track days and karting, so I'm feeling sharp and good to go!"
THERE'S A CHANGE WITHIN THE TEAM, TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW ENGINEER.
"John Waterman is one of the most experienced engineers in the business and we've slotted into the groove seamlessly. He's been with the team since 2015, most recently with Andrew Jordan. We actually worked together in China over the winter on a different programme and he lives locally to me, so I can easily pop over."
WILL THE BTCC LOOK ANY DIFFERENT IN THIS NEW CONDENSED SEASON?
"Things will be different with safety precautions in place of course, and this will be closely monitored and adjusted, as necessary. We don’t have our usual hospitality units or catering team yet and the number of people in the team has also been reduced. I’m confident the TV coverage will bring fans at home as close to the action as they can."
HOW DOES YOUR DIARY LOOK FOR THE REST OF THE SUMMER?
"The next five weeks are going to be a very busy spell, with four events in five weekends, but this is motorsport and we’re used to being adaptable. I’ve had plenty of time to prepare and make changes to the way we plan to go about our business. Recovery will be key for me and the top priority is ensuring I remain healthy and well. A summer of sport awaits!"
