Why this weekend's BTCC kick-off promises real racing thrills

Tune in to ITV4 for excellent live television coverage. Better still, head to Donington Park this weekend to see it all in the metal.

Rivals beware: Turkington refreshed after extended break

Having nine events crammed into less than four months, the shortened 2020 BTCC season will be like no other before, with even more pressure and intensity than usual. But it’s a challenge that four-time champion Colin Turkington is relishing, especially after an extended off-season offered him welcome time to recover from the effects of last year’s dramatic final-race title showdown.

“I can’t say I enjoyed the lockdown period as a whole but, back in March, the new season originally felt it was coming up very fast for me,” he says. “Every season in the BTCC just feels like it gets busier, with so many demands on your time and energy, and one year just rolls on into the next, especially when you win the championship.

“For me, the break has been a great opportunity to catch my breath. I actually feel ready to start the season now: I’ve been able to have a reset and get my energy levels back up.”

That extra energy also has Turkington relishing the revamped schedule. “I’m excited about doing the championship in a different way,” he says. “Usually, we go to the same tracks at the same time of year. This year will be very compact, and I’m going to feel like a Nascar driver, racing every weekend.

“It will be a challenge to do it in a different fashion, and it will be more important than ever to keep our noses clean and stay out of trouble.”

Tom Ingram: Toyota's title challenger

Speedworks is now officially part of Toyota Gazoo Racing. What does this mean to you as a driver?

“The commercial side is strong, but it’s also great to be associated as a subsidiary to one of the best racing teams in the world. It’s great for the CV to be associated with a Le Mans-winning team, and it puts us in a strong place from a development point of view, because we can tap into their resources too. Hopefully now I can do a [Fernando] Alonso and get involved in other areas of motorsport. If you don’t ask, you don’t get!”

After a strong 2019 season, do you feel a title shot is realistic in 2020?

“It’s our best chance to date. It does feel exciting. It feels like we are in a super-strong position. The goal is nothing less than to win the title. We narrowly missed out in 2018, and I feel I’ve got unfinished business.”

What are the strengths of the Toyota Corolla?

“We’ve worked on a number of areas, so there isn’t one big strength. That’s key in this championship. You don’t win it on your good days but on your bad days. Yes, you can be quick over one lap, but how does it all work when you’re struggling? We’ve always worked on having a strong, positive front end on the car, but the key is having the best bad days possible.”

What’s it like, racing against a team like West Surrey Racing?

“They’re a world-class team, but they’re not the only one on the grid. Over the past three years, it has been tougher than ever – probably more than when I was watching it as a kid. The BTCC has a fantastic pool of talent in terms of drivers, engineers and mechanics.”

Five drivers who could beat Turkington

DAN CAMMISH, 31: Team Dynamics Honda’s nearly man of 2019 heads into his third BTCC season with both eyes on the big prize. A brake failure just two laps from clinching the title dropped him to third in the table. He took only two wins last term but understands the value of scoring points consistently.

TOM INGRAM, 26: Already heading into his seventh BTCC season, all with Speedworks. Finished second to Turkington in 2018 and gave the new Corolla its debut last year as Toyota upped its support, winning four times. Appears to have everything in his armoury to bid for the title.