BMW announces thats its a fully fledged Factory backed team for the 2017 BTCC Season.

• Returning as a Manufacturer Team after 21 years.
• Marking ten years relationship with West Surrey Racing.
• Welcoming back 2014 BTCC Champion, Colin Turkington.
• Celebrating signing of multiple BTCC Independent Drivers Champion, Andrew Jordan.
• Renewing seven year WSR deal with Series’ favourite, Rob Collard.
• The Series commences at the opening rounds at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit on 1-2 April 2017.

A further chapter in BMW’s illustrious history in touring car racing unfolded today as BMW UK, in partnership with West Surrey Racing (WSR), announced a three-car team that will again bid for victory of the 2017 British Touring Car Championship.

The announcement of TEAM BMW is a landmark occasion, marking BMW’s return to the country’s best-watched motor race series as a manufacturer team. It has been 21 years since the marque last contested the series in this manner, when BMW Team Schnitzer fielded a BMW 320i line-up.

Graeme Grieve, CEO of BMW Group UK, commented: “The BTCC is one of the most significant race series in the UK and has a huge and enthusiastic following. With a history of success and the continuous support of WSR for the past decade, we are delighted to step up as a Manufacturer Team again after 21 years.”  

BMW UK’s significant financial investment in the BTCC team includes the funding of technical developments on all fronts, focused on the very latest BMW engine derivative.

At the launch at BMW Park Lane, London, Graeme Grieve joined WSR Team Principal, Dick Bennetts, to remove the wraps from one of the three BMW 125i M Sport team cars that will contest the 2017 BTCC. With the cars freshly-developed, prepared and run again by WSR, BMW’s return to the Series as a Manufacturer coincides with a further landmark, marking a decade since WSR first contested the BTCC with BMW, which has endured to this day.

The BMW relationship with Dick Bennetts’ Sunbury-based operation in the BTCC was established in 2007, where they claimed both the Independent Drivers and Teams Championships. They repeated the feat in 2008 and went on to take the overall BTCC Drivers’ title in 2009, and added a driver and team double crown in 2014.

Dick Bennetts remarked: “I reckon that working together successfully as motorsport partners for ten years is the equivalent of a lifelong marriage. It is a tribute to BMW’s product and commitment, and we are delighted to once again represent the marque as they return with increased commitment as a Manufacturer in the BTCC.”

Significantly, the driver roll of honour for each of the three BTCC Independent, Overall and Teams Championship victories fell to Northern Ireland’s Colin Turkington.

Turkington has spent nine of his 12 BTCC seasons with the WSR-BMW team, during which he scored 26 wins over five seasons. Now, two years after claiming the outright Drivers Championship at the wheel of a previous-generation BMW 125i M Sport, he returns to the rear-wheel drive TEAM BMW with renewed vigour.

Driver talent runs deep in BMW’s 2017 BTCC campaign. Joining Turkington is Andrew Jordan, 2013 BTCC Overall Drivers Champion and three-time Independent Drivers Champion - who brings with him long-term personal sponsor, Pirtek. Completing the trio is Rob Collard, a BTCC followers’ favourite and the Series’ legendary overtaker who, after his most competitive season to date in 2016, marks the tenth consecutive year he has driven a BMW in the BTCC, the last seven with WSR.

Last year, the trio of WSR-prepared BMW 125i M Sport cars contributed to a nail-biting finale that went down to the wire at the final round. Team driver Sam Tordoff was pipped at the post for the overall driver’s title, just two points shy of victory. Nevertheless, the WSR BMW team claimed a double title success at the conclusion of the series, taking the BTCC Constructors crown and the Teams’ Championship once again.

Entering the 2017 season of the super-competitive BTCC, TEAM BMW has heavyweight success behind it, increased financial and technical investment from BMW UK, the skills, consistency and superb track record of West Surrey Racing, and a driver trio that collectively represents the most powerful line-up in this year’s BTCC series.

The history behind the success: WSR and BMW

A switch to BMW machinery in 2007 marked the start of the most successful chapter in WSR’s touring car history. Colin Turkington became independents’ champion in his first season with the BMW 320si and added an overall title in ’09 and a race win in the FIA World Touring Car Championship for WSR the following year.

Replacing the 320si model with the new BMW 1 Series for 2013 paved the way for another overall title for Turkington in 2014. He also won the independents’ title – the fifth for a WSR driver in 11 seasons – and helped the team add a fourth independent teams’ crown in the same year.

The 2015 season brought race victories for WSR’s three drivers; Rob Collard, Sam Tordoff and Andy Priaulx while Collard, Tordoff and Jack Goff combined to win the constructors’ and teams’ championships in 2016; the latter under the Team JCT600 with GardX banner.

TEAM BMW: Driver biographies 2017 British Touring Car Championship

ROB COLLARD

Nationality: British

DOB: 1st October 1968

Age: 48

Born: Hampshire

Lives: Eversley

BTCC History

BTCC Debut: Oulton Park, 29 May 2000

BTCC starts: 427

BTCC wins: 13

BTCC podiums: 53

Fastest laps: 15

Drivers Titles

(2016 Dunlop MSA BTCC #ForeverForward Trophy winner)

2003 Dunlop MSA BTCC Independent Drivers’ Trophy

ANDREW JORDAN

Nationality: British

DOB: 24th May 1989

Age: 27

Born: Sutton Coldfield

Lives: Lichfield

BTCC History

BTCC Debut: Brands Hatch, 30th March 2008

BTCC starts: 265

BTCC wins: 16

BTCC poles: 6

BTCC podiums: 53

Fastest laps: 16

Drivers Titles

2016 Dunlop MSA BTCC Independent Drivers Trophy

2013 Dunlop MSA BTCC Drivers Championship

2013 Dunlop MSA BTCC Independent Drivers Trophy

2012 Dunlop MSA BTCC Independent Drivers Trophy

2007 British Rallycross Supercar Championship

2005 British, BTRDA & Super Series Junior Rallycross Championships

2005 Ginetta Winter Series

2004 BTRDA Junior Rally Championship

2003 Winter Junior Rallycross Championship

COLIN TURKINGTON

Nationality: British

DOB: 21st March 1982

Age: 34

Born: Newry, County Down

Lives: Portadown, County Armagh

BTCC History

BTCC Debut: Oulton Park 21st April 2002

BTCC starts: 333

BTCC wins: 41

BTCC poles: 17

BTCC podiums: 110

Fastest laps: 39

Driver titles

2016 DUNLOP MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP – 4th Drivers Championship

BRDC Silver Star Winner

2015 DUNLOP MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP – 4th Drivers Championship

Independent Drivers Champion

2014 DUNLOP MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP – 1st Champion

Independent Drivers Champion

Autosport National Driver of the Year

BRDC Silver Star Winner

2013 DUNLOP MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP – 5th Drivers Championship

2011 SCANDINAVIAN TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP – 5th Drivers Championship

2011 World Touring Car Championship - 3 Events (1 podium finish)

2010 FIA WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP – 6 Events

(4 podiums including 1 win – Japan)

2009 HiQ MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP – 1st Champion

Independent Drivers Champion

BMW Sports Trophy winner

Autosport National Driver of the Year

2008 HiQ MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP - 4th Drivers Championship

Independent Drivers Champion

2007 DUNLOP MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP – 5th Drivers Championship

Independent Drivers Champion

BMW Sports Trophy Winner

3rd WTCC Race of Great Britain

8th WTCC Race of Macau

2006 DUNLOP MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP – 3rd Drivers Championship

2005 DUNLOP MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP – 6th Drivers Championship

2004 DUNLOP MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP – 6th Drivers Championship

2003 DUNLOP MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP – 8th Drivers Championship

2002 DUNLOP MSA BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP – 14th Drivers Championship

2001 FORD FIESTA ZETEC S CHAMPIONSHIP – Champion

The Series commences at the opening rounds at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit on 1-2 April 2017.

Turkington takes two and Goff takes one win at this weekends BTCC event at Snetterton.

Team BMR star bags huge points haul while Goff grabs maiden win

Reigning champion Colin Turkington fully ignited his Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship defence with a dynamic double win at Snetterton yesterday (9 August).

He became the first driver to take a second pole position of the season after getting the better of his Team BMR stable-mates Aron Smith and Jason Plato on Saturday, as the squad produced the first qualifying 1-2-3 in the BTCC for eight years.

The team backed up its pace in Sunday’s opener with a podium lockout as Turkington led home the same pairing.

Turkington made a steady getaway but immediately had to fend off a passing attempt by the sister VW of Smith, as Plato looked on closely from behind.

The trio settled down over the opening few laps with Smith and the ballast-laden Plato seemingly unable to keep pace with Turkington. While the gap remained fairly slim throughout the contest the Ulsterman would continue unopposed thereafter to take the chequered flag.

MG’s Andrew Jordan, West Surrey Racing’s Andy Priaulx and Honda’s Matt Neal completed the top six while then-championship leader Gordon Shedden endured a challenging encounter down in 14^th.

Things would turn from bad to worse for the Scotsman as he further relinquished his standings advantage with two non-finishes in the following races.

Turkington also won the second bout as he kept away from the drama down the order to secure his third triumph of the 2015 campaign.

The 33-year-old hauled his VW CC off the line and led commandingly into Riches for the first time. Adam Morgan’s Mercedes got the jump by the slow-starting BMW of Sam Tordoff, and Priaulx also nipped by his WSR team-mate before the end of the first tour.

Having been hit out of race one Rob Collard’s disastrous day continued as he was fired off into the barrier in race two, and there were several other incidents that saw the likes of Shedden, Aron Smith and Matt Neal all forced into retirement.

The other main title contenders made the most of the opportunity as Turkington led home Morgan and Priaulx, with new championship leader Plato taking fourth.

MG Triple Eight Racing’s impressive young talent Jack Goff won the final reverse-grid race after producing a dominant performance.

Goff made a great getaway from pole position and immediately set about extending a gap to the chasing pack. Running the Dunlop SportMaxx soft tyre, Goff was able to string a series of strong laps together until mid-distance. Although the performance in his rubber naturally tailed off towards the finish he was able to fend off Plato’s challenge and take the win.

Plato's VW initially had a win-lose battle with Tordoff and Priaulx’s pair of WSR BMWs, as the Team BMR star passed the former off the line before being taken by the latter on the first tour.

Fifth place was held by Morgan’s WIX Racing Mercedes in the opening moments but double race-winner Turkington was soon ahead on lap two. Almost simultaneously Plato made arguably the move of the day ahead as he went late on the brakes into Brundle. Priaulx had no answer and Plato was through into second.

Morgan ran wide and onto the grass at Riches as Turkington too fell into the clutches of the chasing Jordan and Mat Jackson. Carrying maximum success ballast due to his earlier victory, Turkington’s VW first had to yield position to Jordan’s Triple Eight MG before Jackson’s Motorbase Ford sneaked through shortly after.

The top seven was then set until the finish, with the race undoubtedly being remembered for Goff’s first ever victory in the BTCC.

As the sun set over Snetterton it is Jason Plato now leading the standings by 16 points from team-mate Colin Turkington. Honda’s Gordon Shedden has slipped to third after his difficult weekend in Norfolk, whilst West Surrey Racing’s Sam Tordoff remains fourth.

Honda heads the manufacturer table but MG has reduced the deficit to just five points. WSR remain in contention in third.

Team BMR top the teams’ and independent teams’ order while Turkington holds the advantage in the independent drivers’ classification.

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship now moves on to Knockhill in two weeks' time (22/23 August) for Rounds 19, 20 and 21.

Colin Turkington said: “It’s been a super weekend – two wins and a solid points finish in race three have really brought me into the hunt. I needed a performance like that as I was beginning to feel a little left out! 

There's been a lot of rivalry between me and Jason [Plato] since day one, and he’s had a little bit of an advantage until now, but I’ve pretty much cracked it. There are a lot of strong drivers in this series, so competition comes from all angles. Snetterton plays to our strengths, but Knockhill might be a bit more of a workout. We’ll keep pushing though and the results will come.”

Jack Goff said: “I made my best start of the year, and what a time to do it! That’s the strongest the car has felt all season, and it was a great race. I could see Jason [Plato] in my mirrors and was thinking ‘of all the people to have behind me, it would be him!’ 

It’s finally happened though – I had a little wobble on the last lap where I just switched off for a split second but I managed to hold it together. It’s so good to get the first win for the team this year. Andy [Jordan] and I have both been working really hard, and I’m happy to finally make it to the top step. Hopefully the results will come like London busses now!”

Jason Plato said: “It’s been a great weekend – we were ten points behind coming into the weekend and now we’re leaving 16 ahead. An engineer would say that’s a delta of 26 – which means it’s been a very good weekend! I can’t remember a time when a team has scored a 1-2-3 in qualifying and then backed it up with a 1-2-3 in the race too. 

It’s nice to be at the top of the standings, I think we can be stronger than people might think at Knockhill. It’s definitely a BMW circuit, which is good because it will take points off some of our championship rivals. We’ll definitely be in the mix.”

Andy Priaulx said: “It’s been a brilliant weekend – to score two podiums at a track that we know isn’t one of our best is really positive. Let’s keep this momentum going now and start focusing on that championship. If we can put together three races like that when the car isn’t best suited to the track then we should be right up there at Knockhill where it’s been quick in the past. WSR has done a great job for us to be this strong – the racing at the front this weekend has been really hard and fair, it’s been great fun.”

Gordon Shedden said: “I don’t really know what to say. I don’t think I’ve ever had a weekend where I’ve had so much bad luck. It is what it is, we’ve got to move on and make the best of the next one now. These kind of weekends happen every now and then, but the team has worked so hard and while luck wasn’t on our side the car was still great. We’re going to put this one behind us and come out fighting at Knockhill.”

Matt Neal said: “The weekend hasn’t exactly gone according to plan. It was a bit of a rough weekend for both of us – for racing and results. At stages like this you have to look forward and as I said to ‘Flash’, in this game we’ve got to be able to roll with the punches – you’ve got to have tough races and tough weekends to appreciate the good ones. 

Unfortunately this has been a bit of a rough weekend for us but the positives are: we will be a bit lighter going into the next round, we’ve got a great car under us with some great speed and a great team behind us. I’m taking those positives, my glass is half full. It was a bad day at the office but we’ll bounce back.”

2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Snetterton

Race 1

1. Colin TURKINGTON (Team BMR): 12 Laps
2. Aron SMITH (Team BMR): +1.706s
3. Jason PLATO (Team BMR): +2.651s
4. Andrew JORDAN (MG Triple Eight Racing): +3.442s
5. Andy PRIAULX (Team IHG Rewards Club): +3.732s
6. Matt NEAL (Honda Yuasa Racing): +8.340s

Race 2

1. Colin TURKINGTON (Team BMR): 12 Laps
2. Adam MORGAN (WIX Racing): +3.140s
3. Andy PRIAULX (Team IHG Rewards Club): +3.320s
4. Jason PLATO (Team BMR): +3.502s
5. Sam TORDOFF (Team JCT600 with GardX): +3.757s
6. Jack GOFF (MG Triple Eight Racing): +5.280s

Race 3 

1. Jack GOFF (MG Triple Eight Racing): 12 Laps
2. Jason PLATO (Team BMR): +0.315s
3. Andy PRIAULX (Team IHG Rewards Club): +2.064s
4. Sam TORDOFF (Team JCT600 with GardX): +2.476s
5. Andrew JORDAN (MG Triple Eight Racing): +7.224s
6. Mat JACKSON (Motorbase Performance): +10.200s