Double British Touring Car champion Colin Turkington believes he has “nothing to fear” ahead of the BTCC finale on the Brands Hatch GP circuit this weekend.
The Northern Irishman currently leads the points standings by 34 points from nearest rival Tom Ingram, with an available 67 up for grabs at Brands Hatch.
As Turkington returns to the Kent circuit, where he won his 2009 and 2014 titles, he believes he has little to worry about as he feels “so ready” to take title honours.
“I’m counting down the days to Brands Hatch; I’m just so ready,” he said.
“Yes, there will be pressure, but if you’ve prepared mentally and physically, you have nothing to worry about.
“I’ve nothing to fear and everything to gain. Arriving to Brands as a contender is such a special feeling and one I live for.”
Turkington also believes the previous experience he has of being under pressure for the championship at the Brands Hatch finale will give him an edge this weekend.
“It takes years of experience and mental training to be able to control the emotions that creep in on those big days,” said Turkington.
“Having to perform on that stage ignites another level of performance from me. I’ve had some of the best races of my career at Brands Hatch GP, and this year I’ll be doing everything I can to improve on that.”
The Team BMW racer has scored ten podiums so far in 2018 and believes this consistency has helped him to fight back in the standings after a disappointing Donington Park round earlier this season.
He also says he will be using the “disappointment of last year” -where he lost out to defending champion Ash Sutton in the final race – as motivation in his bid to achieve a third BTCC title.
“Donington Park was unchartered territory for me and the team, but how we recovered set us apart,” he said.
“As a team we’ve been in constant dialogue since Silverstone and we’re leaving nothing to chance. I’m confident in the BMW and the exceptional team I have around me.
“The disappointment of last year was the stimulus for this one. It’s coming home with me this time.”