Photo: Jakob Ebrey

Ash Sutton: “My goal for 2021 remains the same”

Ash Sutton says he is fully focused on adding a third championship to his name after confirmation that he will defend his BTCC title with the expanded Laser Tools Racing team in 2021.

Sutton secured the 2020 crown in his first year with the Infiniti team after overhauling Colin Turkington during the final weekend of the campaign at Brands Hatch.

Having been at the centre of speculation about his future in the aftermath of the finale, Sutton has now been confirmed as the lead driver in a new three-car team alongside Aiden Moffat and Carl Boardley, with Laser Tools Racing going into partnership with Team HARD for 2021.

“2020 was a year to remember, a new car, a new team and three championships at the end of it,” he said. “Breaking up that championship winning package wouldn’t have been a wise move, so to be flying the flag for Laser Tools Racing again in 2021 is absolutely mega!

“To continue working alongside Aiden again for next year means we can pick-up where we left off, but with the added bonus of getting stuck into a testing programme over the winter.

“It’s great to have the addition of Carl Boardley and Team HARD with us for the up-and-coming season. To have a third Infiniti on the grid will benefit in many ways, speeding up the development with the car, conditions and direction of setup changes throughout a weekend.

“My personal goal for next year is no different to the goal me and the crew set out for last season and that was to win. But this time we have the added bonus of already having raced at each track, which means we will be more prepared coming into each weekend and able to attack with a clearer direction of what we want.”

Boardley’s move over to an Infiniti comes after a season in a BMW 125i M Sport, and he said he felt the switch would allow him to make progress up the grid.

“For me, to continue in the championship required a clear vision and a path in which to enable me to challenge with the front runners, especially after a somewhat frustrating season in the 1 series,” he said. “With time and weather constraints limiting the testing pre-season and then the enforced COVID sabbatical, 2020 for us was almost ‘testing’ at the race weekends.

“Getting my hands on an Infiniti Q50 at this early stage provides us with a solid platform to prepare everything off track so we can hit the ground running when it all kicks off.”