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HAPPY PODIUM DAY
14/04/2008
Darren celebrated his 34th birthday with his first two podium finishes of the 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Rockingham Speedway yesterday. The Oxfordshire-based driver had two superb drives – including great starts and sensational overtaking manoeuvres – to secure 2nd and 3rd places, although it was the torrential rain that fell in Northamptonshire which defined the final outcome to the day.
Qualifying on Saturday had been a frustrating affair due to changing track conditions and the need for a last minute dash for a lap. "We should have been right up there but it didn't go exactly to plan," said Darren. "We were relatively quick as the track was drying out but we got caught out by the scrutineers and I ended up with just the last ten minutes of qualifying in which to set a decent time. It was a bit frustrating to have to settle for 4th on the grid rather than challenging for pole like last year, but things just didn't fall in our favour."
Sunday's first race started dry but the rain started to fall just three laps before the chequered flag. It will be remembered though, certainly by the SEAT Sport team, for Darren's great move on the opening lap past Matt Neal and Adam Jones for 2nd place. Despite relentless pressure from Neal's Vauxhall, Darren kept his cool and was in turn able to apply pressure to eventual race winner, Gordon Shedden.
"I was really pleased to get the podium. The move on the first lap just worked out perfectly – I could have got tapped, and it could have all gone wrong, but I was lucky. There was plenty of pressure from Matt, but thankfully we held out to the end. I was pretty close to Gordon at certain points but it wasn't worth the risk of not finishing, especially as the track started to get greasy with the rain towards the end."
By the time the second race started, the track had dried and DT was able to make the most of his front row grid position – despite the 36 kg of success ballast he was carrying. Another great start saw him take the lead on the first lap, a position he held for over half of the 19-lap race. He had to drive very defensively from a hard-charging Fabrizio Giovanardi, and the reigning Champion was the eventual cause of his slip to his final finishing place of third.
"There was a rub with Fabrizio," Darren admits. "And that damaged both my left front wheel and his right rear; we were probably both lucky to finish the race. After that I had to keep on defending to the flag to keep third. Another podium was a good result in the circumstances."
The third and final race of the day was delayed due to an extremely heavy thunderstorm and the conditions prevented a fairytale ending to Turner's day. He didn't get the same rocketing start as previously, though conditions were so atrocious it was difficult to see anything as either a driver or spectactor, and his race ended prematurely at the Pif Paf gravel trap on the seventh lap.
"It was very wet and I just got caught out under braking twice, and the second time it was game over. I've had a good race weekend, but it was a shame to end it on a bit of a downer. I've had trouble in the rain once before, at Donington last year, and twice here today so I need to work out a way of this not happening again.
"We are gradually finding out about the new diesel Leon, and I'm sure that next time out at Donington we'll just have to come out fitter and stronger."
Rounds 7, 8 and 9 of the BTCC take place at Donington Park on May 4.
Darren, 34, lives near Banbury in Oxfordshire. Successful in many different categories of motorsport, taking wins, podiums and points at almost every outing, he's going all out for 2008 BTCC success. He remains a firm favourite with teams, fans, and media alike.
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