Colin Turkington was pleased to have secured a first pole position for Team BMR at Donington Park, but insisted he would be content with three strong finishes in tomorrow’s British Touring Car Championship races.
The 2014 champion went into qualifying having been overshadowed by team-mate Jason Plato who set a scorching pace in the first two practice sessions, but Turkington saved his best until the final moments of qualifying as he snatched top spot with a best lap of 1:09.483s.
Speaking to TouringCars.Net after the session, the Northern Irishman was satisfied with a first race one pole since Croft last year, which he felt showed how well he had adapted to his new Volkswagen CC.
“I’m really pleased to get pole position so early in the season with this car,” he said. “It shows progress both with it [the car] and myself so it’s a step in the right direction.
“Everybody’s on the limit and it was just about getting the setup on the car correct and me getting the right lap. It all comes down to tenths and hundredths and I’m really pleased that I managed to put it all together.”
Turkington admitted that he had found the swap to front-wheel drive machinery challenging, but insisted that he was making the best of the situation and that making progress in that department was just as satisfying as beating his team-mate.
“It’s not been easy, I’m having to really work hard at it and concentrate on doing the right things but I’ve got to keep improving as the season goes – it’s been a lot to take in but it’s going well.”
“Not just Jason – [but] to see the progress in myself. It’s a big challenge I took on with this car and it’s pleasing to see that I’m learning and doing the right things.”
Despite claiming pole, the 33 year-old stated that securing consistent, top-three finishes were his immediate aim in the early stages of the season.
“I would like to finish on the podium three times – you don’t have to win them all – but three good scores [is the aim] really, it’s early days in the season.
“I’ll be going in with fighting spirit and try my best.”