Team BMW star clinches Goodyear Wingfoot Award at Brands Hatch

Colin Turkington completed a sensational season of qualifying by securing his fourth pole position of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season at Brands Hatch earlier today (5 October).

With the legendary Grand Prix circuit hosting the season finale weekend, Turkington's latest pole position also helped him clinch his third Goodyear Wingfoot Award in five years – a trophy awarded to the best qualifier throughout the season.

The BMW 330e M Sport has always been a potent weapon in the BTCC and the Bavarian marque has claimed the award in four of the last five years, with Turkington having taken the honour on three of those occasions.

Turkington has shown fantastic pace throughout the year and has qualified on the front row of the grid at every event since the mid-season break.

The Northern Irishman will line-up alongside Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Tom Ingram, with the latter gunning for a second overall Drivers' title.

The 2022 champion is currently tied at the top of the standings with Jake Hill, and Ingram will be buoyed by his front row start for tomorrow's opener, marginally swinging the title pendulum his way before race day commences.

NAPA Racing UK's Ash Sutton still holds intentions of challenging for the title – currently sitting 33 points off the championship summit with 66 now available – and the #1 Ford Focus will line-up third tomorrow.

LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ's Josh Cook and Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing's Árón Taylor-Smith were fourth and fifth respectively, whilst Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport's Hill was sixth.

Hill and Ingram have traded the standings lead since Oulton Park way back in June, so it's arguably fitting that the duo remain inseparable going into the season finale. The #24 BMW of Hill is currently ahead by virtue of his seven race wins to Ingram's five, whilst Sutton still poses a serious threat from third in the order.

Rounds 28, 29 and 30 of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship take place on the legendary Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit tomorrow with a huge crowd expected to attend the famous Kent venue.

Many many more will watch the action LIVE on ITV4 with the entire race day being broadcast from 1030. Remember, for the first time in the championship’s history the BTCC is being broadcast globally this season with every race being streamed live via ITV Sport’s TikTok channel.

Colin Turkington, Team BMW, said: "That's my fourth pole of the year and it was important to get myself up there ahead of the main protagonists. It's obviously great to be on pole, I've completed better laps than that, but it was obviously good enough. It's a good place to start from tomorrow so that's the first part of the job done. My job tomorrow will be pretty much the same, I'll be trying to win the race, but let's get through lap one and then adjust the strategy from there. I'm pretty privileged to win the Goodyear Wingfoot Award – it's the third time I've won it – so it's testament to all the hard work by everyone at Team BMW."

Tom Ingram, Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS, said: "That's a really good result for us. The car has felt fantastic all day, everyone at Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS have worked so hard to make sure that every single weekend we've got a great car – it's a real pleasure to drive. It's a hell of a rush to drive a qualifying lap around here in a BTCC car into the finale, it's a really special feeling especially when the car feels so good, around a circuit I absolutely adore. The points are won tomorrow so we will see how that plays out."

Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK, said: "The car was mega and we should have topped every session really. We lost a lap there for track limits, which was a bit of a shame. Overall, I'm pleased with that, we're amongst it and we've got nothing to lose tomorrow. I'm pleased with the car, it's phenomenal, our starts have been quite strong so if we can make a jump on Tom [Ingram] that will be great, and then get stuck in. I need race wins so if anyone wants to get in the way of that then good luck to them – I'm going for race wins, fastest laps, the lot!"

Brands Hatch GP - Qualifying - Final Classification