Turkington

[Alfa Fan]

Is anyone else disappointed at the effort Colin is making this year to get back on the BTCC grid? I fully appreciate the circumstances that have seen him not be able to enter thus far are not directly of his making, but he hasn't exactly been making everyone aware that he hasn't got a deal and he needs sponsorship to get back racing in the same way Plato did last season.

[AndySpeed]

As far as you're aware, through the media...

[Alfa Fan]

Thats my point! What better way to let potential sponsors know about you.

[Iain]

As far as you're aware, through the media...

Exactly. They've been trying since before Christmas to secure funding for this year. Just because it hasn't been made public doesn't mean you should assume no effort has been put into it. And saying things in the specialist motorsport press isn't really going to attract the attention of an MD from a large company. Don't criticise people when you don't have access to the full facts.

[Alfa Fan]

Iain, I know you have connections with Colin so unavoidably take some of the criticism a bit personally. Some of the sponsorship Jason attracted last year was because of the media attention that he gains for himself and whoever he's driving for.

Rightly or wrongly Jason is a massively popular driver whose presence in the series is as vital to the casual fans as the more fanatic, whereas the general feeling over Colin's absence seems to be just that its a bit of a shame.

Don't get me wrong, I really want Colin to be there but it isn't as important for the series as a whole that he is there as it was Jason was there in 2009 IMO.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Plato is just more marketable than Colin as he is a TV personality. It's no coincidence that SEAT, Chebrolet and almost Volvo entered with Plato as their lead driver.

[I am evil Homer]

He's the defending champ though you'd think that would persuade someone to step up. Problem is we're still in a recession (the impact of a 6% reduction will be felt for the next 18 months) so getting cash isn't easy.

[m.lowe]

It will be sad not to see CT out this year and I guess the family firm Turkington Holdings cant sort a budget for a beemer which is a shame

[Eurotech]

Maybe he's just taken the "quit while you're winning" approach this season ;)

[christophulus]

I'm a bit surprised that Turkington hasn't got anything sorted yet. Plato started last year on a race-by-race basis, Gio's doing the same this year. Wouldn't it make sense to start the season with however much funding he has and hope he can find some sponsors later in the year?

[Alfa Fan]

Does anyone know for certain that WSR haven't taken 3 cars to Thruxton? Colin's name is still on the truck..

[RMLCruzeing82]

im guess theyve done that just in case he comes back in the year. just a guess but you never know. 888 have sprung a shock on the grid WSR mite do the same lol

[Eurotech]

I think his names on the truck because WSR were going to run him in the ETC Cup this year - it seems that hasn't happened either :/

[Iain]

Iain, I know you have connections with Colin so unavoidably take some of the criticism a bit personally. Some of the sponsorship Jason attracted last year was because of the media attention that he gains for himself and whoever he's driving for.

Rightly or wrongly Jason is a massively popular driver whose presence in the series is as vital to the casual fans as the more fanatic, whereas the general feeling over Colin's absence seems to be just that its a bit of a shame.

Don't get me wrong, I really want Colin to be there but it isn't as important for the series as a whole that he is there as it was Jason was there in 2009 IMO.

I wasn't taking it personally at all. I was just disappointed that you were appearing to be critical of the efforts of many people in trying to get Colin funds to race, when you probably don't know the half of what has gone on during the winter. :) He's devastated not to be there, so are his family and so are his loyal crew at WSR. He's been fortunate to have driven for a fully sponsored team these past five years and not to rely on too much outside funding. Before that in his first spell at WSR, he obviously was a pay driver when he was trying to establish himself in the series, but now when he's the BTCC champion, he shouldn't be paying to drive from what is effectively his own pocket, with Turkington money.

There have been many offers made to him for drives which require some funding and he has made many approaches to companies for sponsorship. It's not through the lack of effort that he can't get out there. Even Dick Bennetts, a man with over 30 years of motorsport experience can't believe how hard it's been trying to find him funding.

As for Plato's example, well he's a different person entirely. He's a media personality as well as a driver and known to many non-BTCC fans and that will appeal to the company directors out there. Colin's known for his racing only and that makes it a bit harder. He does have an excellent PR agency working for him and they're trying to raise his profile in his home country and also the mainland UK.

I hope he does get the funds to do something this year. He may have to even look outside touring cars if that's the way things go. GTs and Sportscars seem to be on the up at the moment, in contrast to touring cars, certainly in the case of the WTCC anyway. If he does get enough to do touring cars, you can be assured that it will be with WSR, so that will be why the name is on the truck. Also he's been there for so long, he's like a member of the family there.

[MattL]

It's a real shame Colin's not out in the BTCC - it looks like being another great season and you can't help but feel he'd be right up there again.

[BDunnell]

It's a real shame Colin's not out in the BTCC - it looks like being another great season and you can't help but feel he'd be right up there again.

And rather higher in the standings, surely, than the two WSR drivers who were in possession of sufficient budget to drive for the team in 2010.

[Alfa Fan]

How could he not be? If Turkington only does a couple of meetings later this season he'll still beat Neate!

[VkmSpouge]

I've got to agree. On the basis of Thruxton, Andy Neate won't be troubling the points on too many occasions this year but I will be supporting Neate to prove me wrong :) . Hopefully he will improve as the season wears on.

[Eurotech]

hang on, he was nearly beaten by Martin Johnson who has a VERY restricted budget and a 9 year old car whereas his car is a 2007 Beemer with all the necessary upgrades and one of the world's top preparation teams...

I think he needed a lot of improvement before he made his proper BTCC debut...

[Allyc85]

WSR must be even more desperate for Turkington to return after today. I expected alot more from Collard who should be right near the front for all the races when hes racing in a championship winning car.

[VkmSpouge]

hang on, he was nearly beaten by Martin Johnson who has a VERY restricted budget and a 9 year old car whereas his car is a 2007 Beemer with all the necessary upgrades and one of the world's top preparation teams...

I think he needed a lot of improvement before he made his proper BTCC debut...

I believe Martin Johnson's car was built for the 2004 season so is six not nine years old but I'm just nitpicking. I agree Neate was too far off the pace and in a WSR-run BMW he should not be fighting with Martin Johnson.

There was some improvement shown today, by race three his personal fastest lap was reasonably competitive but he's needs to produce that pace over an entire weekend not just for a few laps in a single race.
Race 1 Fastest Lap: 1m18.473. Neate's fastest: 1m20.856 (+2.383s)
Race 2 Fastest Lap: 1m19.094. Neate's fastest: 1m21.514 (+2.420s)
Race 3 Fastest Lap: 1m18.562. Neate's fastest: 1m19.256 (+0.694s)

I suspect Andy Neate needs some time to get to grips with the BMW and competitive racing again.

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Lets remember that he is recovering from a broken neck.

[BDunnell]

That lap time in race three is actually not at all bad for someone returning to racing after a long lay-off and driving this type of car, i.e. an S2000 machine, for the first time competitively.

[Eurotech]

I agree with this but I think that WSR should have him as a 3rd driver rather than a second one, and what's happened to Collard? has he forgotten how to drive a BMW?

[Robinho]

i was disappointed by Neate at the start, but as the weekend went on it became cear he was out there to get track time and gradually improve himself and the car without binning it. by the 3rd race he was on a decent pace. all things considered i think he did pretty well and should improve in coming events.

as for Collard, he didn't seem too racy, but was driving really well in the 3rd race and was set for a podium at least until Matt Neal employed his usual style when he can't get past someone. Collard will provide a decent reference point for Neate, and also i think it probably shows up the lack of cash WSR have this year as i don't think the car has been developed at all

[VkmSpouge]

I agree with this but I think that WSR should have him as a 3rd driver rather than a second one

A little bit difficult to do since it plainly obvious no one else has the money to run in another WSR BMW.


and what's happened to Collard? has he forgotten how to drive a BMW?

He drove it very well in the second and third races.

[tisme]

I agree with this but I think that WSR should have him as a 3rd driver rather than a second one, and what's happened to Collard? has he forgotten how to drive a BMW?

Not expecting any decents results from WSR until Turkington returns...