Ash Sutton doubled up with his second Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship victory of the day at Brands Hatch this afternoon (Sunday). The three-time champion inherited victory after on the road leader Ricky Collard received a 10-second penalty for exceeding track limits.
Collard took first at the start after a brave move around the outside of reverse grid pole-sitter Bobby Thomspon. The Toyota Gazoo Racing UK pilot refused to back down around the outside at Paddock Hill Bend and Druids and he was richly rewarded with the inside line as they streamed into Graham Hill Bend.
Rory Butcher ran third early on in another of the Toyotas, but it was Sutton who was the key mover a few places behind. Sutton made the most of a mistake from his NAPA Racing UK teammate Sam Osborne at Druids on lap two and he quickly dispatched Butcher at Surtees the following time around to move onto the podium.
George Gamble was another driver to make positive moves early on, as he passed Osborne at Druids on lap four to put all three Toyotas in the top-five. The race briefly seemed to settle at the front with the most frenetic fight comi9ng behind with Josh Cook, Jake Hill, Tom Ingram and Dan Cammish all bottled up behind Osborne in a tight train.
Cook eventually forced his way past Osborne at Graham Hill Bend on lap five and many of the chasing pack followed him through with the Ford dropping right down to the lower reaches of the points positions. At the same time Sutton made a key move for second on Thompson with a strong pass at Clearways.
Collard’s lead was gradually reduced through the middle part of the race as Sutton intently pursued the Toyota. Further back Hill passed Cook before catching Gamble and Butcher who were engaged in an all-Toyota fight for fourth. Hill passed Gamble first before repeating his move on Butcher a lap later as Gamble ran wide with car trouble. During a flurry of chaotic laps, Butcher and Hill both fell by the wayside too elevating Ingram and Cammish amongst others up the order.
At the front, Sutton really increased pressure on the Collard as the race entered its final laps. Despite the Ford driver’s best efforts, Collard always seemed able to respond just enough until it became apparent two laps from the end that he had been penalised for exceeding track limits.
This didn’t deter Sutton from attempting to take the win on the track however, as he swapped positions with the Toyota repeatedly on the final lap. Collard ultimately passed the chequered flag first but his time penalty meant he was demoted to eighth whilst Sutton climbed to the top step of the podium.
With the result shifting as they crossed the line, Thompson secured second whilst Ingram completed the rostrum. Cammish ultimately ended up fifth one place ahead of race one victor Colin Turkington in sixth. Adam Morgan was seventh as he completed his recovery from a significant incident in the opening contest of the day.
Daniel Rowbottom and Josh Cook completed the top ten behind the demoted Collard.
Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Race 3, Brands Hatch
- Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST
- Bobby Thompson, Autobrite Direct with Millers Oils, Cupra Leon, +0.948s
- Tom Ingram, Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8, Hyundai i30N, +5.901s
- Dan Cammish, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, +7.623s
- Colin Turkington, Team BMW, BMW 330e M Sport, +8.457s
- Adam Morgan, Team BMW, BMW 330e M Sport, +9.507s
- Tom Chilton, Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8, Hyundai i30N, +9.682s
- Ricky Collard, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, Toyota Corolla GR Sport, +9.800s
- Daniel Rowbottom, NAPA Racing UK, Ford Focus ST, +10.680s
- Josh Cook, One Motorsport with Starline Racing, Honda Civic Type R, +11.677s
Click here for full results from this weekend's event.