Ash Sutton extends BTCC points lead after rollercoaster race day

Ash Sutton remains out front in the British Touring Car Championship after managing to extend his lead to ten points at the top of the standings at Snetterton.

On what proved to be an action-packed race day, helped no less by the ever-changing weather conditions, the Alliance Racing driver tallied a seventh consecutive podium in race one before then failing to score in race two after taking the gamble to run slick tyres.

Starting at the back of the grid for the finale, the four-time champion powered his way up to fifth place. That was to be only half the story however as it later became apparent that Sutton had been battling the ill-effects of exhaust fumes in the cockpit after sustaining damage early on.

“That was a bit of a rollercoaster weekend – both in terms of the racing and the weather – so to have come away with another podium and having extended the championship lead is mega,” said Sutton.

“Going to Snetterton we knew that we were gonna be up against it in terms of hybrid deployment but we managed to maximise absolutely everything to stick it on the front row for race one. To convert that into a seventh consecutive podium was pretty special.

“Obviously race two we took a gamble on switching to slicks and I really thought that given how quickly the track was drying that we’d made the right decision. That wasn’t to be the case when the heavens decided to open again.

“Race three wasn’t much fun if I’m honest, despite us getting all the way up to fifth. We had contact on the rear passenger door and exhaust early on, which then meant that for the rest of the race I had fumes pumping into the cockpit; to get to fifth was some achievement!”