Team BMW duo targeting points on race day

Team BMW duo Colin Turkington and Rob Collard have their sights set on banking points at Donington Park after enduring contrasting qualifying sessions.

In wet conditions, the West Surrey Racing pairing worked tirelessly to find a balance in their 1-Series’ to suit the persistent rainfall.

Finishing best placed of the rear-wheel-drive machines, double champion Turkington will line up P11 in the opening encounter at the Leicestershire circuit on race day, and is optimistic of what he can achieve.

“Donington Park in the wet is the most difficult circumstance for a rear-wheel drive car,” the Northern Irishman said. “The circuit is low-grip and we always find those conditions challenging.

“We’ve chipped away all day at the set-up and nudged the car in the right direction, it’s just about trying to find the best compromise. We did that for qualifying and the car was the best it has been. I think we got close to the maximum in that session.

“It’s always hard to be as fast as the front-wheel drive cars here, but I’m satisfied with where we are. I would rather be starting further up the grid, but I am 11th and I can race from there. We have to take what I have earned today and make some points tomorrow.

“These things even themselves out over a season. That’s why I say it’s about scoring points and trying to do the best we can on the difficult days, because we know there will be other places we go to where the coin has flipped and we will be stronger.”

For Collard, P25 was to be the result of his qualifying efforts however the Hampshire-racer is keen to put his race craft to the test as he bids to move through the field over the course of the day.

He said: “I am struggling with the BMW in the rain this year. It was the same at Brands Hatch. In the dry the car is fine, but in the wet I’m struggling and I can’t put my finger on why.

“It’s cold today so we can’t generate enough heat in the tyres. As a team we have to dig deep, find out why we are not working the tyres enough. I’m 25th and it is not where I want to be.

“It’s carnage at that end of the grid so we just have to try and get through Races One and Two and hopefully get a good spot for the reversed grid in Race Three. The positive is that if you avoid the carnage you can make up a lot of places.”