Motorsport

Boss confident over first BMW win

BMW could be back in the BTCC winner’s circle before too long

Auto Express Car Reviews

Bennetts convinced of 3-Series’ pace

31st May 2007

It’s now been 11 years since the German company clinched a round of Britain’s premier race series – but according to Team RAC boss Dick Bennetts, that drought could well come to an end at Croft on 2 June.

After scoring several successes with its MGs, the WSR-run squad has not tasted victory since switching to BMWs at the start of this season. However, Bennetts believes this is on the verge of changing and the floodgates are about to open.

“We’re still learning about the car, but we’ll know quite a bit more by the time we get to Croft,” he said. “Our rivals at SEAT, Vauxhall and Team Dynamics have all built their own entries from scratch, so have understood them from the first day. But as a customer team, we haven’t had the luxury of in-depth help from BMW.” Despite the squad’s standing start, its two drivers, Colin Turkington and Tom Onslow-Cole, have so far each been able rack up second-place finishes at Brands Hatch and Rockingham respectively. The former even qualified on pole position for the car’s BTCC debut at the Kent circuit, the season-opener in April. “Both Colin and Tom have done a brilliant job; the move to rear-wheel drive has meant it’s been a pretty steep learning curve for them as well as us,” explained Bennetts. “That first win can’t be too far away now.”