Colin Turkington joins The Magnificent 7!
By MJP Media | 11 February 2014
The 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will now feature no fewer than seven champions on its grid after Colin Turkington announced his return with the eBay Motors squad.
Colin Turkington in his 2013 eBay Motors BMW 125i M Sport
Northern Irish racer Colin Turkington will once again be joined at eBay Motors by his 2013 team-mates Rob Collard and Nick Foster as the West Surrey Racing run squad believes continuity is the key in its title ambitions. Certainly with a very successful year with the BMWs under their belt in 2013, the coming season looks promising. Turkington lived up to his billing last year in what was his first BTCC campaign since winning the title back in 2009, taking a victory in only the second meeting of 2013 with the team's brand new BMW 125i M Sport. His challenge for the title continued right up until the final meeting of the season at Brands Hatch.
The 31-year-old impressively scored five victories on his way to fifth in the 2013 standings and the feeling among the team is that Colin, combined with a further-developed BMW in its second season, will be in an even better place to challenge for the championship in the year ahead. "It was a very new look team and a brand new car last season and I was pleased with our progress." said team boss Dick Bennetts. "Considering the other top teams had run NGTC cars for at least a year, five wins was something that everyone should be proud of. This season is all about building and the guys at the factory have done a lot of R&D work this winter. We are thrilled to have Colin, Rob and Nick back on board in our pursuit of winning the BTCC."
Rob Collard (left) and Colin Turkington
West Surrey Racing is a legendary race team, with Team Principal Dick Bennetts instrumental in the careers of many motor sport greats including Ayrton Senna. Talk of winning the BTCC outright is particularly pertinent seeing as it was the same Turkington/WSR combination that stormed to the championship in 2009 and now they hope to repeat the feat in what looks set to be the most competitive BTCC season in many years.
Seven-time BTCC race winner Rob Collard also showed flashes of speed during 2013, particularly when scoring a superb podium at Knockhill. Nick Foster's season high of fourth place at Croft was also a standout moment for the eBay Motors squad, however the duo will be keen to build on their performances in the campaign ahead. Collard said: "We're a close knit group here in the eBay Motors team and we really value each other as drivers. We've all got a great understanding of the car and with it looking even better this season, we can't wait to get back out there."
Nick Foster
"I have a long relationship with WSR and we've experienced some great successes together in both the BTCC and WTCC." said Turkington. "Last season was a real transitional period for me with the new car and returning to the BTCC, but hopefully it's made me a better driver and I am confident I can go even better with the eBay Motors team this season."
"With this being our fifth BTCC season, we are delighted that Colin, Rob and Nick will be representing the team again for 2014." said Tony Austin of eBay Motors. "We have a great relationship with WSR and it's good to see that our drivers buy into the collective ambition we all have for the team. With a year together under their belts, this is a cohesive team of drivers that we hope can be really competitive this season."
Touring Car content supplied by MJP Media
A VIEW FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT
A regular account of life in the British Touring Car Championship from the driver's point of view
The start of a long term partnership starts today!
Aiden Moffat announces a major sponsorship deal with Laser Tools for his assault on the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship and will race under the 'Laser Tools Racing' banner.
Things are shaping up well for our first full season in the BTCC
As we move into 2014, there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes for Aiden Moffat and the rest of his team ahead of the 2014 British Touring Car Championship season.
Two weeks into owning the car and things are moving on!
We catch up with Aiden Moffat as his team start preparing his car for the 2014 BTCC season, including a new livery designed by Aiden himself.
The future looks bright and I can't wait!
With his first contribution to these pages, we are delighted to welcome Aiden Moffat as our 2014 British Touring Car Championship columnist.
Brands Hatch and the end of the 2013 BTCC season
Dave Newsham looks back at the last meeting of the 2013 BTCC season and his year with Speedworks Motorsport and the Toyota Avensis.
Silverstone, change and progress!
Following an exciting weekend at Silverstone, Speedworks Motorsport driver Dave Newsham gives us the inside story of changes to his Toyota Avensis and the events of the penultimate meeting of the year.
TOURING CARS - LATEST NEWS
Race reports and previews from the British Touring Car Championship plus British interests in other international Touring Car series
Colin Turkington joins The Magnificent 7!
The 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship will now feature no fewer than seven champions on its grid after Colin Turkington announced his return with the eBay Motors squad.
Aiden Moffat announces major sponsorship deal with Laser Tools
In a major deal for 2014 and with the option of further years available, Aiden Moffat has partnered with Laser Tools to run the Chevrolet Cruze under the banner 'Laser Tools Racing'.
Fabrizio Giovanardi is the latest champion to return!
In a move which firmly confirms the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship as being THE place to race in 2014, former champion Fabrizio Giovanardi makes a welcome return with Airwaves Racing.
BTCC grid to showcase 5 former champions for 2014!
In a sensational return to the British Touring Car Championship, Alain Menu will join former champions Andrew Jordan, Gordon Shedden, Jason Plato and Matt Neal in a star studded 2014 season.
Jack Goff confirmed with RCIB Insurance Racing for 2014
Jack Goff is the latest driver to be confirmed for the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. He returns with the RCIB Insurance Racing squad to drive the Vauxhall Insignia for a second season.
BTCC at Autosport International 2014
The Autosport International show from the NEC in Birmingham this weekend sees the world's top motor sport drivers and cars gather for the public to see everything up close and personal with the BTCC well represented.