Turkington last got his hands on the dri✨vers’ crown at the end of the 2019 campaign to draw level on four with Englishman Andy Rouse – a stat that took more than three decades to be equalled. 

Of the current crop of drivers, only NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton could potentially reach the key milestone before Turkinꦦgton; he has three to his name already a𒁃nd is a strong contender for more. 

The 41-year-ღold – who is once again competing under the West Surrey Racing banner at the wheel of a BMW 330e M Sport saloon – ki✤cks off his 30-round schedule at Donington Park this afternoon with qualifying followed by three Sunday races. 

He has had a constructive pre-season, chalking up the miles on dry, greasy and soaking wet circuits – conditions that are commonplace in the national tin top series, which runs until early October.&nbs𓄧p;

“I do need a fifth title but there are guys who need one, two or three – everybody has the same go♕al,” s🍒aid Turkington.

“My last title was 2019, although I came close in 2020 and 2021 but maybe not as close last year, but I still feel I have ꧅all the ingredien🐻ts that is required to do it. I’ve got the car and the team, so I just need to keep doing what I’ve been doing and see where that takes us. 

“Since I came🙈 back to the British Touring Car Championship in 2013, I have always gone into the final weekend of the season with a chance and I just have to keꦯep doing that because, someday, it will fall back my way,” continued the Portadown native.

“I am st⭕ill convinced that it is there to be done, but who knows? If it is not this year, then it might be next year but I will just keep trying. 

“We have had a strong pre-season and we have made as much progress with the BMW as we can reasonably e💧xpect given the rain – and even snow – we have encountered.

“We have gone 🦄through a big list of test items and settledꩲ on a package that I am happy with, so I feel in a really good place in terms of a set-up that should be easy to refine for the demands of each circuit. I am excited.” 

At Donington Park 12 months ago, he enjoyed a strong qualifying performance to start race one from the front row of the grid and come home in second to the ev🍸entual champion, Tom Ingram.  

In the second sprint, clutch-related problems dropped him to the back of the pack but determined driving brought him from 28^th to 14^th at the finish line. He wrapped out the meeting eighth in the third race – reward for those mechanics who completed repairs on his car as the pitlan♋e opened. 

“Last year at Donington we were very fast and should have scored more points than we did, so this time the target will be the same as always: maximise the opportunity, take the season one event at a time and get to Brands Hatch in October with a chance♋ of winning the title,” said Turkington.