Turkington last got his h🌳ands on the drivers’ 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 equ⛦alled. 

Of the cur🦂rent crop of drivers, only NAPA Racing UK’s Ash Sutton could potentially reach the key milestone before Turkington; he has three to his name already a💯nd is a strong contender for more. 

The 41-year-old – who is once again competing under the West Surrey Racingꩲ banner at the wheel of a BMW 330e M Sport saloon – kicks off his 30-round schedule at Donington Park this afternoon with qualifying followed by three Sunday races.&nܫbsp;

He has had a constructive pre-season, chalking up the miles on dry, greasy and soaking wet circuits – conditions that are commonplace in the nati꧑onal💖 tin top series, which runs until early October. 

“I do need a fifth title but there are guys who need one, two or thr💧ee – everybody has the same goal,” said 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 ingredients 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 Champion📖ship in 2013, I have always gone into the final weekend of the season with a chance and I just have to keep doing that because, som🤪eday, it will fall back my way,” continued the Portadown native.

“I am still 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 𝓡keep trying. 

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

“We have gone through a big list of test items and settled 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 eventual champi𝕴on, 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 pܫitlane 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 Turking♓ton.