WSR’s three BMWs took part in the BTCC pre-season test prior to the start of the season being delayed…
West Surrey Racing (WSR) has revealed its all-new British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) team livery for 2020, and it has successfully completed the season’s first official pre-season test with its three 330i M Sport cars. Retaining all three of its drivers from 2019; champion Colin Turkington, Andrew Jordan and Tom Oliphant, the squad’s fresh new look incorporates the iconic BMW M colours with a striking black, red and blue livery.
In 2019, the new BMW 3 Series took nine wins from the first 14 races, with victories shared between Turkington and Jordan – it was the most dominant performance by any single model in almost 15-years. The run of form led to a sixth BTCC Manufacturers’ title for BMW. Now, with the benefit of a year’s car development under its belt, the WSR team has its sights set firmly on more silverware in 2020. None more so than Turkington, who raced to a hard-fought, record-equalling, fourth BTCC Drivers’ crown in 2019 and defends his title this year. Turkington will have to look no further than his own stable for competition in 2020 though, now running under the Team BMW umbrella, a hungry Andrew Jordan fell just a couple of points shy of title glory last season – he’ll be out for revenge in 2020.
The trio of striking Team BMW 3 Series racers took to the Silverstone International circuit during the day, reigning champion Turkington posting the fifth fastest time of the event, 0.514s adrift of the fastest car – Tom Ingram’s Toyota. Posting the seventh quickest time was former BTCC champion Jordan, 0.656s off Ingram, Oliphant sat in P12 0.860s off the pace.
The test took place just hours before BTCC Series Organiser, TOCA, announced it would be postponing the first three events of the season due to the government’s coronavirus (COVID- 19) directives. Though every attempt will be made to reschedule the early season events at Donington Park, Brands Hatch and Silverstone, confirmation can only be provided when further clarity emerges regarding the eventual resumption of major sporting events in the UK.
