Colin Turkington claimed his 163rd Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship podium at the 2022 season opener at Donington Park after the Team BMW driver secured second place in both qualifying and round one.

The four-time champion faced a clutch issue that saw the BMW stranded on the grid at the start of round two, before the Northern Irish driver was able to fight his way through the pack to impressively secure a place in the points in 14th.

In the final race, Turkington maintained a solid performance and completed the race in eighth position, gaining more crucial points towards the championship, leaving the BMW driver seventh in the championship standings.

“It was a positive weekend for me with regards to pace and potential,” said Turkington. “Qualifying P2 on Saturday was a strong start and getting on the podium in race 1 was the dream start.

“Yes, we had a bit of bad luck in race 2 that forced us onto the back foot, but the positives are I had a fast car all weekend and to be able to race back through the pack and collect good points is a very good sign”

“We’re in a good place and I’ve enjoyed the experience of using hybrid and the different strategies in the races. We’ve definitely got a strong car this season and the 3 Series has taken a step forward in performance over the winter.

“It’s been a very busy time for the team with the new system, testing and the extra volume of work that hybrid has created, so it’s an important time now to regroup, apply our learning and make sure we arrive at Brands Hatch in the best possible shape.”