Ash Sutton admits timing key in Knockhill qualifying

Ash Sutton admitted that timing had been key to deciding the grid at Knockhill after qualifying on the front row of the grid for the seventh round of the BTCC season.

The Team BMR driver was on the pace throughout the day at the Fife circuit and posted a time that looked set to earn him pole on his final flying lap, only to be knocked back to second by team-mate Jason Plato as he secured his first pole since the same meeting last year.

Sutton still sits well placed for race day ahead of his main championship rivals and admitted that the conditions had provided a real challenge.

“I’m pleased to be on the front row considering the ballast on the car,” he said. “Had I not got traffic on my final lap then I think pole position was on but in conditions like that, you just have to deal with what you are given as it becomes a real lottery.

“The red flags helped as it gave us the chance to change the tyres to slicks but even without that, I think it was a session where we’d have needed to go to dry tyres before the end – it was just down to timing.”

Sutton’s car had undergone extensive repair work after the incident in race three at Snetterton two weeks ago, with the 23-year-old quick to praise the team for it’s work to turn around the Levorg.

“The car felt as good as new,” he said. “They had it on the jig after Snetterton to make sure everything was straight, and full credit to Willie Poole and his guys, and then guys in the team, for getting the damage fixed for this weekend.”