Podium Hat-Trick For NAPA’s Ash Sutton

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30 May 2022

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Reigning BTCC Champion Ash Sutton climbs the leaderboard to second place with impressive P3 trio at Thruxton Circuit. Top three qualifier Dan Cammish gets hit with major misfortune.

NAPA Racing UK celebrated more Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship podium success at Thruxton Circuit on Sunday, 29th May, with reigning BTCC Champion Ash Sutton wrapping up a hat-trick of top three finishes and moving into second in the Drivers’ Championship.

Sutton was fifth fastest in qualifying at the Hampshire Speedbowl on Saturday, 28th May, just 0.055 seconds shy of the second row. He started round seven well and moved up into third by the time the field exited the complex, securing his second podium of the season.

From third on the grid in round eight, the reigning BTCC Champion challenged for second into Allard before settling into third place where his NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus ST remained. Round nine saw Sutton beginning from fifth. He moved up into fourth on lap one and then third on lap two with impressive expertise. Repelling big pressure mid-race, he pulled away to seal third again, thinking better of a late bid for second at the chicane on the final lap.

Teammate Dan Cammish had a promising start in qualifying with the third fastest time — a mere 0.081 seconds shy of pole. Unfortunately, what followed was a nightmarish race day. His hopes in round seven were dashed midway around the first lap when his Ford Focus ST was barged off the track. After making it back to the pits, he re-joined and finished in 25th, only just missing the fastest lap.

Facing a tough challenge in round eight from the 13th row of the grid, Cammish worked his way into an 18th place finish. In the final encounter, though, more unfortunate contact at the chicane on lap 10 led to a finish of 20th place. With better luck in future races, we have no doubt Cammish can reclaim a spot in the Drivers’ Championship Top Ten.

THE TEAM

Oly Collins – Motorbase Performance Team Manager:
“What a weekend of highs and lows! It was an absolutely fantastic weekend for Ash with a podium in all three races, and especially to get the result in race three with a great drive. That keeps him in a great position in the championship. Unfortunately, after a mega effort in qualifying, Dan’s weekend was blown apart on lap one in the first race. It’s really difficult to come back through at Thruxton, even more so with some questionable driving by some others on the grid! But Dan had the front runners’ pace all weekend which is rewarding, but also even more frustrating at the same time. [He will] bounce back at Oulton I’m sure.”

Ash Sutton – NAPA Racing UK, No.1:
“I enjoyed that one [race three], I felt at one with the car — the car was really good. Another podium! I didn’t know what to expect. We made a couple of changes and it was the right way for sure. If we can roll over what we’ve been learning this weekend, and coming into this weekend, and maybe do a bit more of that, then we are going in the right direction. So, I’m looking forward to Oulton Park. It’s attacking, it’s my style, so hopefully we can get the car dialled in.”

Dan Cammish – NAPA Racing UK, No.9:
“What can you say about a weekend like that? If it could go wrong it did, but that’s racing sometimes and no matter what you do, you get caught-up in other people’s incidents. It’s frustrating as we were quick in qualifying, so close to pole for race one, but the races were obviously a disaster. It makes us more determined than ever though to hit back stronger at Oulton Park in a couple of weeks, I hope we can have better luck there.”

SNAP A PIC WITH THE NAPA CAR

Thruxton also welcomed the addition of NAPA Racing UK’s Ford Focus RS display at the Kwik Fit stand. At this and future races, fans have the opportunity to take a picture with everyone’s favourite blue and yellow car — so if you’ve got tickets to one of the upcoming race days, don’t miss out! And if you don’t have tickets yet… what are you waiting for?

There’s only a fortnight to wait until the BTCC arrives at Oulton Park Island Circuit in Cheshire for the fourth event of the season, on 11th/12th June.

THE STANDINGS

2022 BTCC Drivers Championship
2nd Ash Sutton, 116pts
13th Dan Cammish, 41pts

2022 BTCC Manufacturers/Constructors Championship
2nd Motorbase Performance/Ford, 222pts

2022 BTCC Teams Championship
3rd NAPA Racing UK, 158pts

Stay tuned for more NAPA Racing UK updates as the BTCC 2022 season unfolds!