Team RAC will look to continue their impressive start to the season as the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship arrives at Donington Park, Leicestershire this Sunday (17 May).
Team RAC will look to continue their impressive start to the season as the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship arrives at Donington Park, Leicestershire this Sunday (17 May).
Colin Turkington lies in second position in the Championship standings following a strong display at Thruxton two weeks ago, which saw the Team RAC man record his 14th career victory.
Team-mate and Leicestershire-born Stephen Jelley returns to his home circuit keen to build upon an encouraging start to the season, which sees him lying in seventh position overall.
Last year's meeting at Donington was plagued by unpredictable weather and the damp conditions proved difficult for the rear-wheel drive cars. However, the team are confident of a far stronger performance this time around having impressed at Thruxton.
Current Independent Drivers Champion Turkington comments: "Confidence is definitely high going into Donington. I've been in good form so far this season and the aim is to continue that form with another strong points finish.
"Historically the car is always quick around Donington and a similar performance to last year in terms of qualifying should ensure we're in contention."
Stephen Jelley said: "I've been looking forward to Donington for a while now. Every time I get out of the car I can't wait to get back in at the moment, and with it being my home event, I'm sure there will be a lot of support.
"It should be a good weekend for Team RAC. We've had a good start to the season, but we have to take it one step at a time. The car should be quick and we hope we can be up there challenging."
WSR Team Principal Dick Bennetts said: "Since Thruxton at the end of last month, both cars have been completely stripped down and reassembled ahead of the trip up to Leicestershire.
"The team are all looking forward to Donington as it's a great circuit, and we're hopeful we can maintain our strong start to the season."
Turkington has amassed 58 championship points after the first two rounds, while team-mate Stephen Jelley has collected 29 points. Team RAC are currently second in the BTCC team standings with 87 points, and currently lead the Independents Championship.
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Notes to editors:
About BTCC
The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) was formed in 1958 and is Britain's most popular motor racing spectacle. Its race season comprises ten events at top circuits across the UK. It is contested by professional racing drivers in competition versions of every day road cars, giving it tremendous public appeal. Some 325,000 watch the BTCC trackside each year. www.btcc.net
About RAC - The Driving People
With around seven million members, RAC is one of the UK's most progressive motoring organisations, providing services for both private and business motorists. Whether it's roadside assistance, vehicle inspections and checks, legal services or up-to-the-minute traffic and travel information - RAC is able to meet motorists' needs. RAC incorporates RAC Insurance.
RAC is committed to providing the very highest levels of service to its members and has been ranked first for customer service by J.D. Power and Associates' UK Roadside Assistance Study for the last three years.
RAC is part of Aviva, the world's fifth largest insurance group which operates in 28 countries.
RAC's news releases and a selection of images are available from the internet press centre at www.racnews.co.uk.
About HiQ
HiQ (part of Goodyear Dunlop) became the BTCC's new title sponsor in 2008 in a new three-year agreement. It provides a fast-fit car care service at its 150 centres across the UK. In the next two years, that number will rise to 250 as HiQ embarks on revolutionising the fast-fit industry. It has already taken the lead by offering a unique online service www.hiqonline.co.uk for motorists to buy tyres and arrange a fitting appointment.