The team boss of West Surrey Racing (WSR) says he is disappointed to be losing the services of Colin Turkington after “commercial realities” meant efforts to secure him a seat for the 2025 season fell through.
The shock announcement, which was made public by Turkington on social media and followed up by a statement from WSR’s Dick Bennetts, means the Portadown man won’t be on the grid at Donington Park on the weekend of April 26/27.
Turkington told fans that “there is not one single reason for this, simply a combination of factors and feelings that has helped me make this decision”, adding: “I don’t have too much more to say at this point except that this decision just feels right for me.
“I reflect on so many amazing memories and life experiences that only the British Touring Car Championship could have given me.”
He has been a mainstay of the WSR BMW squad for the past eight campaigns, and 17 of his 20 title assaults dating back to 2002 have been with machinery run by the Sunbury team.
To date, the 42-year-old has chalked up 566 race appearances and of those claimed a total of 72 wins, 190 podium finishes, 76 fastest laps, and started 30 of these from pole position.
“Today we are disappointed to be losing the services of Colin Turkington ahead of the 2025 British Touring Car Championship season,” said Bennetts.
“Colin has come a long way since I first met him in late 2001 just after he’d won the Fiesta Championship as a 19-year-old and is, quite simply, the most successful BTCC driver of his generation.
“Together, he and WSR have created the greatest partnership in the BTCC history with four overall championship titles, four Independents’ crowns and 61 victories (of a career total of 72) achieved together in a variety of car makes and models.
“Taking five race victories in 2024 and winning the Goodyear Wingfoot Award as the year’s best qualifier showed that he remains one of the BTCC’s elite drivers in all aspects.
“It was always our intention to continue our partnership into a ninth consecutive season and a 19th campaign in total. However, despite our best efforts, commercial realities have meant that this has simply not been possible.
“As Colin has said himself today, we should not be sad it’s over, but instead be happy it happened at all.”
Bennetts added: “On behalf of all at WSR, we wish Colin, Louise, Lewis and Adam the very best for the future. The garage just won’t be the same without ‘Team Turkington and his father, Trevor, around and we would be delighted to see Colin back behind the wheel of a WSR race car in the future.”