Team Explains Absence of Key Drivers at Croft Round
West Surrey Racing (WSR), a leading team in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), has provided details regarding the absence of two of its key drivers, Jake Hill and Colin Turkington, from the Laser Tools BMW during the Croft round. The situation highlights the challenges faced by teams when unexpected circumstances arise, particularly when it comes to driver health and race readiness.
Hill, the reigning BTCC champion, has been dealing with an ear infection that has impacted his performance. After feeling unwell during the first practice session (FP1), he was replaced by WSR’s four-time title winner, Turkington, for the second practice session (FP2). This decision was made to ensure the safety of both Hill and other drivers on track.
Turkington, who has taken a break from competitive BTCC racing in 2025 due to commercial difficulties, has been working as a driver coach for Aiden Moffat throughout the season. His return to the track during FP2 was not only a strategic move but also aimed at providing an option for qualifying should it be needed.
During FP2, Turkington used carryover medium compound Goodyear tyres and completed some running before Hill returned to the car for the final few minutes of the session following a stoppage. However, after consulting with long-time BTCC medic Paul Trafford, Hill was ruled out of the remainder of the weekend, and the car was withdrawn from the event.
Hill explained that the disorientation caused by his infection made it necessary for him to step down for safety reasons. He emphasized that this decision was not just about his own well-being but also the safety of other drivers on the track.
Turkington, on the other hand, participated in FP2 to maintain his eligibility for qualifying if required. He noted that while he had his kit ready in the car, the last-minute call to join the session meant he had limited time to prepare.
Challenges in Substitution
Dick Bennetts, the WSR team boss, highlighted the difficulties of substituting Turkington under the current three-phase qualifying system. He mentioned that if the qualifying session were shorter, such as 10 minutes, it would have been a significant challenge for Turkington, who had not driven the BMW since a test at Brands Hatch in March.
Bennetts added, “If we had a 30-minute qualifying session, we might have taken a gamble and put Colin in, but he hadn’t sat in a BTCC car for five months. A 10-minute session would have been very hard, and Colin really likes to be prepared.”
Turkington himself acknowledged that he had only done a few push laps on old medium tyres, which he felt was insufficient for knockout qualifying. He expressed that having two free practice sessions would have given him a better understanding of the car's performance.
Young Drivers Shine Despite Challenges
While the main BMW entry was missing from action, WSR’s young drivers, Charles Rainford and Daryl DeLeon, demonstrated strong performances. Both drivers, who won races at Brands Hatch, showed improved form over recent rounds, securing spots in Q2.
Rainford qualified ninth, just 0.077 seconds off the cut for the top-six shootout, while DeLeon was 10th. DeLeon set a time that was deleted for track limits, but it was only 0.029 seconds away from the top six. These results came after a mid-season test at Snetterton in June.
Bennetts commented, “We learnt something. We’re hoping that there’s more to come, and the drivers are saying the chassis feels good.” Despite these positive signs, the team acknowledges that the BMW is still lacking straight-line speed.
“We’re still down,” confirmed Bennetts. “We’ve all got more power than last year, but the other cars have leapt further ahead.” This indicates that WSR will need to continue refining their approach to stay competitive in the upcoming rounds.
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