Photo: PSP Images

BMR retain champion Ash Sutton for 2018

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BMR Racing has confirmed that it has agreed terms on a deal to re-sign Ash Sutton for the 2018 BTCC season as the youngster seeks to defend the title he won in dramatic fashion last year.

The 23-year-old fought back from a tough start to the year – which saw him fail to score a point in the opening rounds of the campaign – to lift the title on Finals Day following a frenetic battle with West Surrey Racing driver Colin Turkington.

Sutton will be chasing championship silverware for the third successive season, having taken the Jack Sears Trophy during his debut campaign with Triple Eight prior to his switch to BMR.

He becomes the first driver confirmed by the Subaru team for the year ahead, with further news to be revealed in due course.

“I am pleased to be back on the grid for the 2018 season with Team BMR and back behind the wheel of my championship winning Subaru Levorg,” he said. “Last year is going to stick with me as it was a roller coaster of a season, but one that’s going to sit well in the memory bank. I wouldn’t have been able to get where I am now if it wasn’t for all my sponsors, and for the BMR Academy that have supported me from the beginning.

“Everyone has been asking how I will approach this year now I am going in defending my title. I won’t be changing my approach too much but just making sure I am honing in on all my defects that stood out last year, to make sure I am in the best possible position come the end of the season.

“We, as a team, will be taking into account the teams’ championship along with the manufacturers’ title for Subaru. I can’t wait to get going, the boys are working hard in the workshop in preparation for what lies ahead.”

Team boss Warren Scott was understandably pleased to re-sign the defending champion for the season ahead.

“We’re delighted and extremely proud that Ash will be carrying the number one on his Subaru Levorg for 2018 and we are very excited about the 60th Anniversary season ahead,” he said.

“With Ash wrapping up the drivers’ championship last year we will be looking to defend that title along with launching a full assault on clinching the manufacturers’ title for Subaru along with the overall teams’ championship.”