Colin Turkington has taken the title of the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Champion following a successful and tense final day of racing at Brands Hatch.
While the eBay Motors driver started off the weekend doing well in the points, his main challenge came from MG’s Jason Plato; who is the most successful driver that the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) has ever seen.
The race started off with Plato in pole position, in front of his team mate Sam Tordoff. Honda Yuasa Racing’s Gordon Shedden was in third, while Turkington began in fourth.
It was a race that saw three different leaders in the opening lap and a huge multi-car accident at the start.
Plato was immediately overtaken by Tordoff but was quickly overtaken by Turkington, who blasted around the outside as the pack headed into Paddock Hill Bend.
For some time it seemed as though Plato was going to win, with Tordoff in second. However, Turkington stayed in close pursuit and managed to overtake them in the end and take his second BTCC title.
Speaking about his victory, Turkington explained that he was “over the moon” and added: “I wanted this more than ever and I was prepared to do whatever it took to win the title.
“I suppose the main feeling is relief. We were ready to do battle until race three so I really wasn’t expecting to clinch the title so early in the day. I actually thought I was a point short when I crossed the line so I didn’t want to celebrate until I was absolutely sure.”
Turkington’s team and family were ready to celebrate with him at the end of the race, which Turkington said was a proud moment for him. He also said that one of the main reasons he got into BTCC was because his son, Lewis, was not old enough to remember his first title.
Speaking about how he felt in the race, Turkington said that there had been as much pressure as when he raced in 2009. He praised the car he was given this year and said that there had not been a track where his team did not make the podium.
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