Ash Sutton: ‘We didn’t need to do that but the car let me’

Ash Sutton insisted that his run to a sixth pole of the season was one that he ‘didn’t need to do’ but that the performance of his Ford Focus had ‘let him’ produce a record-equalling result on track.

Sutton became the first driver since James Thompson 20 years ago to score six poles in a season after topping the times at Brands Hatch, taking him a point closer to securing a fourth BTCC title, which he now looks on course to do in Sunday’s opening race.

The NAPA Racing UK man set no fewer than three laps good enough for pole in the session as he beat the Toyota of Rory Butcher to top spot, with title rival Tom Ingram lining up directly behind in third.

Should Sutton finish ahead of Ingram in race one, the title will be secured.

“It’s a shame Mikey Doble got pole at Silverstone as we’d have had a 100 per cent record,” he said. “To score six poles personally is great but the car comes alive on those soft tyres and gives me so much confidence, and we’re in a position now where hopefully we can wrap things up in race one.

“We had used tyres on at the start and did a good lap and then when we put new tyres on, I made a mistake that cost us a few tenths so I knew there was more time in it.

“We bolted on two new fronts and when you are in that mindset you have to go with the flow and push to the limit. We didn’t need to do it but the car let me, and if you dangle a carrot in front of me, then I’ll have a nibble!

“That’s 1-0 to us, and pole is a perfect way to start.”