WSR and BMW continue their fight for the British Touring Car Championship this weekend at the UK’s fastest circuit, Thruxton, as the battle for supremacy intensifies.
With just three triple-header rounds remaining of the 2022 season, the fight for the crown has never been more closely-fought with four drivers just 25 points apart at the top of the table.
Two of these are BMW 330e M Sport drivers Colin Turkington and Jake Hill, who lie first and third in the standings with a combined five wins and 19 podium finishes from the opening 21 races.
Four-time champion Colin arrives in Hampshire off the back of a superb double win at Snetterton and holds a 15-point advantage over his nearest rival, Tom Ingram, in the standings.
The Northern Irishman, who started his 500th BTCC race in Norfolk is a four-time winner at Thruxton and memorably triumphed by more than 11 seconds in 2006.
WSR stablemate Jake twice finished second at Snetterton for ROKiT MB Motorsport and sits third in the standings – 24 behind Colin – as he continues to enjoy the best season of his BTCC career.
The Kent racer was second in both races at Thruxton when the BTCC made its first visit of 2022 to Hampshire in May, each time less than a second away from victory.
Stephen Jelley’s recent strong form, which included a pair of top-five finishes last time out, allowed Team BMW to take the lead of the Teams’ Championship for the first time in 2022.
The Leicester racer is seeking to add to his Oulton Park victory and to move up from his current 10th place in the Drivers’ points.
Sunday’s three races will all be broadcast live in HD on ITV4.
Stephen Jelley (Team BMW) said: “I'm looking forward to going back to Thruxton. When we were there in May, the BMW worked better than previous times, so I think we’ve got over it being a track that doesn’t suit us. I still think it’s a front-wheel-drive track, but we’ve reduced the gap and that means we can go there – and to every circuit – with a chance of a podium. I’ve learned quite a lot from Jake [Hill] and his driving style. He had a great result last time out - especially in qualifying - by driving a slightly different style to me, which I've been trying to emulate. I think it's working. We were unlucky last time at Thruxton through factors outside my control, but that’ll happen to other drivers too, so I’m sure we can get some solid
