Auto Talk: Touring Car star Colin Turkington
29 November 2006
In fact he says he's had more fun this season than ever before. But Colin isn't your run of the mill racing driver, as Stuart Milne found out.
"I've just flown in today; we've got a big party tonight that the RAC are throwing for us to celebrate the season."
In a world dominated by clean-living sports stars, it's refreshing to meet someone like British Touring Car ace Colin Turkington who's not afraid to burn the candle at both ends.
"It starts at eight o'clock this evening, but there's no closing time. I'll have a hangover tomorrow", Colin tells me in his broad Northern Irish accent.
He - and his team, West Surrey Racing - deserves it, after taking a career best third place in this year's British Touring Car Championship in a two-year-old car, when other better-funded factory teams are fielding brand new ones.
As Colin takes me round the fastidiously-prepared workshop he explains how he got into motorsport.
"After the Autograss racing, I was racing karts, but the tracks in
"At the time I was doing it for fun rather than a career, but in 2001 I won the championship and it was a great platform to get into the BTCC.
"I didn't plan it, it just seemed to happen, but I'm happy in the BTCC and it's my goal to win the championship. I want to do that and go from there, but I'd love to racing in the World Touring Car Championship."
That’s not saying he's not dedicated to his beloved motorsport, spending most of his spare time training and playing field sports.
Colin has a busy schedule, particularly in the sport-friendly summer. He travels from his beloved Portadown in
"There are ten meets between Easter and October, but there are so many other commitments, especially with the media," Colin said.
I'd assumed Colin would be out charging around
"The industry has changed so much; there's limited testing these days, so outside of racing, we only have five test days per season. Its all to keep costs down", Colin said.
Gardening
With his hectic schedule, you might think he'd enjoy kicking back and relaxing. "I've worked with my Dad for about a year doing some labouring; it's good to do something in case my racing career doesn't work. We do landscape gardening; the work's a bit boring but it’s a good craic.
"Racing isn't as glamourous as you'd think."
At the age of ten, he was taught to drive by one of the lads working for his dad. "We used to drive round the yard on Saturday mornings when Dad wasn't about", said Colin.
"I must have had six cars before I passed my test. My first car was a white one litre Mini and my brother had a matching blue one, which we used to take Autograss racing.
"After that I had a Ford Cortina, a Metro and a Fiesta. I still have an old Sierra and Toyota Carina E which I love to rag around in. I always buy Auto Trader and go straight to the bargain section to pick up something for a few hundred pounds. They're fun to rag about."
Lets go off road
It didn't come as much of a surprise to learn he wasn't a fan of the road-going versions of the hot hatches he campaigns in the BTCC.
In fact, his Nissan Navara pick up is about as far removed from them as you can get.
"Its perfect for my training in the mountains - I can peel off my clothes and dump them in the back. I am in the process of blinging it up though; I'm looking for a set of 22 inch alloys."
The A-Team would be proud.
So with a passion for bangers and off-roaders, it seems odd Colin is currently lusting after his Mum's car.
"My Mum always has nice cars. She drives an Audi RS4 at the moment - it's quicker than my race car; I remember taking her out in it. When I accelerated, she said 'what's that?', I turned and said 'that's G-force mum'".
Although Colin is more than happy in his career, it's clear he'll go where the fancy takes him; when the fancy takes him, but I can see he's getting itchy for his season wrap party - and it's a brave man who stands between an Irishman and his Guinness.
As I leave West Surrey Racing's impressive HQ, I'm left with a feeling Colin is a man of two halves. Although totally professional, I have the distinct impression he's just one of the lads when he's back home.
Auto Trader links Auto Talk: Perry McCarthy, aka The Stig |
"I'm in to all sports…but I won't say I'm very good! I play five a side football every week with my mates, and I've got a golf handicap of 18. It's as much as I can do, to be honest."
I certainly hadn't expected a hard-charging driver in one of the most competitive race series in Page 1
