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NOT THE BEST START, BUT A START NONETHELESS
02/04/2007
"Well, it wasn't the kind of start I wanted, that's for sure," said Darren Turner, after a day of mixed fortunes at the opening round of the 2007 British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch. "I'm some way behind Jason in the points now, but it's only Round 1 and there's still 27 races left to go in the season. I'm not planning to have another round like this one."
Darren retired his SEAT Leon from Race 1 after contact with, and by, competitors caused damage to both his steering and rear suspension, yet he produced the drive of the day in Race 2 to come from 21st on the grid to finish 4th - setting fastest lap of the race along the way. He finished 4th again in the third and final race of the day but was later excluded from the results for making contact with Colin Turkington.
"The one thing that became very obvious over the weekend was that the level of competition in the BTCC is even greater than ever this year. Brands Hatch is one of the circuits that suits our car the best, so it makes the prospect of other circuits such as Donington even more of a challenge. We'll have to dig deep to keep ahead.
"As for this weekend, it was disappointing to pick up damage so early in the first race as from then on we were struggling and fighting a losing battle, but I was very happy in the second race to come from 21st to finish fourth.
"I made a poor start in the third race and dropped to sixth [from fourth], and then at a later stage in the race made contact with Colin Turkington. It wasn't hard, but it was enough to knock him off the circuit. I was hauled up in front of the Clerk of the Course and I'd have to say that his judgement was fair but the penalty was harsh, especially given some of the other shenanigans that went unpunished during the day. Not a good way to end the weekend, though, and certainly not the way in which I'd planned to start my 2007 BTCC season.
"Now I'm thinking ahead to Rockingham rather than backwards, and I'll be aiming for the sort of results that Jason achieved this weekend. We tested well there and I can't wait to prove to everyone that I can, and will, succeed in this Championship."
Darren, 34, lives near Banbury in Oxfordshire. Successful in many different categories of motorsport, his most notable and high profile victories have been at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the British Touring Car Championship. He's a firm favourite with teams, fans, and media alike from around the world.
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