Photo: PSP Images

Ash Sutton maintains BTCC points lead leaving Thruxton

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Ash Sutton remains at the summit of the British Touring Car Championship standings after claiming his third win of the season and a further two top-five finishes at Thruxton.

The Alliance Racing driver was the star of the show in Saturday’s qualifying session as he mastered the wet conditions to claim his first podium of the season.

Race one however would see the Ford Focus ST suffer the misfortune of having the Kwik Fit number plate sticker peel off and get stuck in his air intake, which resulted in a loss of power and dropped him to fourth place.

The four-time champion bounced back from that in style in race two however as he went from fourth to first at the start and was then untouchable out front, reigning supreme in style.

Sutton ended his day at the high-speed Hampshire venue with another action-packed drive, this time surviving contact with Jake Hill at Noble Corner to ultimately finish fifth.

Leaving Thruxton, Sutton holds a nine-point lead over Tom Ingram while Dan Rowbottom is a further 40 points in arrears in third place.

“It’s been another tough weekend but we’ve managed to hold on to the lead,” said Sutton. “If I’m honest I think we go home feeling that we should have at least have had another win and possibly a podium in that last race.

“The odds of the Kwik Fit number plate sticker flying off the car and sapping the power are so slim but remarkably it happened. We managed to nurse the car to the chequered flag but it was so unlucky.

“Thankfully we bounced back to win race two but then in that final race Jake got into the side of us and ultimately it cost me another podium. I think we could have had second, Rowbo was a little bit up the road.

“Heading to Oulton Park, it’s going to be tough as the boost is going to have a huge impact there. We’ll just go there and make the best of what we have!”

In the Manufacturers/Constructors Championship, Alliance Racing/Ford now top the standings while NAPA Racing UK have extended their advantage at the top of the Teams’ Championship.

Chris Smiley and Restart Racing continue to lead both the Independent Drivers’ and Teams’ Championship standings; with Daryl Deleon heading the Jack Sears Trophy ahead of the next round at Oulton Park on June 21-22.