Team BMW head into a brand-new British Touring Car Championship season aiming to make more history as the series heads into its all-new hybrid era at this weekend’s opening round at Donington Park.
After delivering a record-breaking sixth-straight Manufacturers’ title for BMW, the WSR-run team field an ultra-strong line-up of Colin Turkington and Stephen Jelley, both of whom return for another campaign.
Aboard the upgraded BMW 330e M Sport, which ran for the first time less than a month ago with the Cosworth hybrid energy management (HEM) system installed, both Colin and Stephen have showed strong pace in pre-season testing.
This, coupled with strong reliability from the BMW, has given both drivers confidence of their ability to fight for front-running finishes from the get-go.
Northern Irishman Colin Turkington, who this week marked the 20th anniversary of his BTCC debut (also in a WSR-run race car), is one of only two drivers to have won the UK’s top racing series four times.
Having never finished lower than second in the Drivers’ points since re-joining the team in 2017, the Buckinghamshire-based ace is confident of more success during the coming season.
Donington Park holds happy memories for Turkington, who has won at the East Midlands venue in each of the past three seasons and seven times in total.
Team-mate Stephen Jelley begins the new season at his local circuit; the Leicester racer living less than 20 miles away from Donington.
Jelley was a two-time podium finisher last year on his way to 12th in the Drivers’ points, but aims to add to his three career wins in 2022 with the BMW 330e M Sport.
WSR have a strong record at Donington – which was the scene of the team’s BTCC debut in 1996 – with 10 wins and 26 podium finishes achieved in the series.
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