BMW swept aside the spray at a wet and windy Brands Hatch yesterday (15 November) to secure a fifth consecutive Manufacturers’ title in the British Touring Car Championship, as Team BMW similarly snared the Teams’ spoils at the end of another hugely successful campaign.

For the sixth time in his stellar career in the country’s premier motor racing series, Colin Turkington finished inside the top two in the Drivers’ standings, tallying a season-high 13 podium finishes – including five commanding victories behind the wheel of his BMW 330i M Sport.

"To win five consecutive Manufacturers’ titles in the BTCC is testament to a tremendous team effort from all the guys and girls here at WSR – it’s an incredible achievement,” Dick Bennetts, Team Principal, West Surrey Racing, said.

WILD WEATHER.

The changeable conditions unfortunately conspired against the Northern Irishman at Brands Hatch, although as the track dried in race two, he demonstrated his BMW’s dry weather pace by scything through the pack from ninth to fourth, seeing him enter the final round of the campaign still in the hunt for the biggest prize in UK motorsport.

A battling performance that yielded ninth place at the chequered flag was ultimately not quite enough, but nonetheless sealed second position in the Drivers’ classification, with team-mate Tom Oliphant concluding an excellent sophomore season with Team BMW in sixth. Tom said, “This has been my best BTCC season to-date, and I’ve got to be happy to finish sixth overall against a whole host of more experienced drivers.

Contesting only his third campaign in the BTCC, the 30-year-old similarly struggled to find grip around Brands Hatch’s short Indy circuit, posting a top ten finish in race one before fighting his way back into the points in race two after being spun down the order by a rival. That did not, however, take the sheen off a strong season, with his maiden race win and three further rostrum results firing Oliphant five places further up the Drivers’ table than in 2019.

The pair’s combined performances were sufficient to cement BMW’s seventh BTCC Manufacturers’ crown, as Team BMW successfully recaptured the Teams’ title. The hard work now begins in earnest ahead of the resumption of racing next April, when the 2021 season fires into life – back at Brands Hatch Indy – on 3/4 April.

Colin Turkington said, “We’ve had some great results this season and the Team BMW guys have done a fantastic job to provide me with a great car throughout. Everybody gave 100 per cent in the pursuit of victory, and they should all be very proud of what we have achieved.”

Find out more about Team BMW and the British Touring Car Championship here.