Alternator issue scuppers Ash Sutton’s pole position hopes

Ash Sutton has revealed that an alternator issue was the reason for him grinding to a halt in the final segment of British Touring Car Championship qualifying at Snetterton.

The Alliance Racing driver comfortably progressed out of Q1 but appeared to encounter an issue mid-way through Q2, briefly coming to a stop at the exit of the Wilson Hairpin before he was able to continue.

After progressing into Q3, the four-time champions Ford Focus ST sadly came to a stop once again – and this time he was unable to make it back to the pit lane.

“It was an alternator issue in the end,” said Sutton. “When it ground to a halt in Q2 I managed to recycle things and get the car going again; and thankfully we made it into the Quick Six.

“We were able to find the issue in the short break before the final segment but I basically couldn’t do a warm up lap as we had to protect things.

“When I eventually got into my lap we turned everything up but sadly we didn’t have enough to get on the board and it came to a stop.

“It’s frustrating because I think we had enough to be in the mix with Dan [Cammish] and Tom [Ingram] for pole position. Still to be sixth isn’t bad at all and we can work from there for tomorrow.”