Ash Sutton charges to victory in Qualifying Race

Ash Sutton produced a sublime drive to claim victory in the British Touring Car Championship Qualifying Race at Brands Hatch, extending his early lead in the standings in the process.

Despite only have one second of TOCA Turbo Boost at his disposal, the Alliance Racing driver charged from fifth to first on the opening lap and once out front, he controlled proceedings to claim victory and with it, pole position for race one on Sunday.

Reigning champion Tom Ingram had started from pole position but found himself shuffled down the order as the field streamed down into Graham Hill Bend.

Having covered off the charged Sutton exiting Druids, the Hyundai driver could do nothing to stop a late lunge from Daryl De Leon. Leaning on each other through the corner, Ingram was pushed wide, which in-turn allowed Sutton to hit the front.

Sutton, De Leon, Dan Cammish and Ricky Collard would all also move past Ingram and that would be how it finished, with the quintet of drivers running line astern all the way to the chequered flag.

Behind, the Plato Racing Mercedes of Adam Morgan bounced back from an early incident with Charles Rainford to finish ahead of the lead Power Maxed Racing entry of Mikey Doble.

Doble finished ahead of his Audi S3 Saloon team-mate Dexter Patterson, with the MB Motorsport Toyota duo of Aron Taylor-Smith and Gordon Shedden rounding out the top ten.

Speedworks Motorsport’s Josh Cook had been running inside the top ten however an issue with his left front forced him to pit with just a lap remaining.