Colin Turkington will be back on the Kwik Fit BTCC grid this season, after confirming that he'll remain with the West Surrey Racing squad with whom he's earned all four of his championship titles.
The Northern Irishman is one of the most successful drivers in the BTCC's history; in addition to those four crowns, he's taken 63 race wins, with 52 of those triumphs coming in WSR machinery, and five Independents' titles.
Last year, he took three victories and 12 podium finishes as he took the title battle to the final round of the season at Brands Hatch, eventually finishing fourth in the standings.
Turkington's continuation at WSR completes the squad's four-driver line-up, with Jake Hill and Stephen Jelley also returning with the team alongside newcomer Adam Morgan.
"I'm extremely pleased to be a part of the WSR team for the 2023 season and to race the BMW 330e M Sport," said Turkington. "This will be my 15th year with WSR and you couldn't ask for a better team to be a part of. I've been in title contention every year since I came back here in 2017 and naturally the aim is to go to Brands Hatch in October with everything to play for.
"I think it'll be an even more competitive season than 2022 with the rule changes around the option tyres, the shoot-out qualifying and hybrid deployment use. With Adam joining, I now have three strong team-mates all with the same ambition to win, and that gives me an opportunity to keep learning and improve myself. To stay in the hunt, we'll have to bring our A-game to every event, and that's where being with a team like WSR, with its engineering expertise and experience of winning championships, is a huge plus point."
"We're very honoured to keep Colin with us in 2023," added Team Principal Dick Bennetts. "He was a young man when he first raced for us in 2002 and being part of his growth from a promising youngster into a race winner and then into one of the most successful drivers in the history of the BTCC has been very special.
"Naturally, our target is to win the Drivers', Teams', and Manufacturers' titles this year and we have a very strong line-up to help us achieve this. While it gets tougher every year as the level of competition improves and the rules are continually evolving to level the playing field, the way we go about things at WSR has consistently put us at or near the front over the past decade. Having a driver like Colin in our corner, with his never-say-die attitude, his analytical approach, searing speed and loyalty has been one of the cornerstones of that."
Six rounds of the BTCC will take place at MSV circuits in 2023. The opening round takes place on the Donington Park National circuit on 22-23 April, before visits to Brands Hatch (Indy) and Snetterton (300) in May. The popular Oulton Park visit takes place on 17-18 June before a much anticipated return to the Donington Park GP layout on 26-27 August. The finale, as is tradition, will take place on the Brands Hatch GP circuit on 7-8 October.
Tickets for all rounds at MSV venues are on sale now, with main race day tickets priced at £34 for adults, with discounts for teenagers aged 13-15 and free entry for children under-13.