Turkington chasing balance with new 3 Series

Defending British Touring Car champion Colin Turkington says there is still more work to be done in order to set the new BMW 330i M Sport up more to his driving style.

Turkington qualified as the highest placed BMW runner in third for the Brands Hatch season opener but endured a mixed bag of results come race day.

The Team BMW driver scored a best finish of fifth in race three to emerge from the opening weekend of the series 13th in the points standings, while his team mate Andrew Jordan took the WSR built 3 Series’ first BTCC race victory in race two.

“It’s nice to get up and running with fifth and the fastest lap. Positive signs. The pace is obviously in the car,” Turkington told Crash.net.

“We just need to work a bit harder to tailor it to my driving style, but that will come. It’s very early days. We’ve got a lot of information to look at now but the signs are good.

“Tyre choices went slightly against us. I’ve just been fighting the car a bit all weekend. Once we get it more in the window for my driving style we’ll be able to unlock the pace.”

The three-time champion says his driving style requires a more positive front-end from the 3 Series.

“The car out of the box hasn’t been set for my driving style but that’s what we’ve got to do now to turn it into my direction. We have a test. So that’s what we’ll focus on doing,” Turkington continued.

“It’s the front-axle that we’re looking to get working a bit better. My driving style needs a bit more of a positive front end. It’s a bit weak in that department at the moment, so that’s what we need to focus on making better.”