Ash Sutton Claims Victory in Chaotic British Touring Car Championship Race at Croft
Ash Sutton secured a dramatic victory in the final British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) race of the day at Croft, showcasing exceptional skill and composure amid a highly competitive and chaotic event. The four-time title winner led home Tom Ingram by 2.201 seconds in his Alliance Racing-run NAPA Ford Focus ST, thanks to a masterful performance that saw him rise from fifth on the grid.
This result further narrowed the points gap between Sutton and Ingram, who now holds the championship lead after winning the first race of the day. Sutton’s non-score in that race allowed Ingram to take the advantage, but this latest win keeps the battle for the title tightly contested.
A Dramatic Start and Early Contact
The race began with Aiden Moffat, the reversed-grid poleman, taking an early lead in his West Surrey Racing (WSR) BMW 330i M Sport. However, Tom Ingram, starting alongside Moffat on the front row, attempted to overtake him at the first corner. The move led to contact, and despite a massive slide, Moffat managed to hold onto the lead, pushing Ingram down to third behind himself and Charles Rainford’s WSR BMW.
Ingram tried to challenge Rainford, who was running on hard tyres, but Sutton made a bold move at Sunny In, slipping past both drivers and moving into second place. As the race progressed, a significant pile-up at the complex brought out the safety car, creating more chaos on the track.
Safety Car Drama and Strategic Moves
During the safety car period, Adam Morgan worked his way past Rainford, while Dan Cammish attempted to gain ground on the BMW. However, Cammish was nudged off the track by Rainford, who had suffered damage earlier in the race. This incident caused Cammish to collide with Daryl DeLeon’s WSR BMW, resulting in multiple cars being forced into the pits for repairs.
Chris Smiley was also caught in the collision, adding to the growing list of incidents. Meanwhile, Dan Rowbottom and Mikey Doble were forced to make quick pit stops due to the damage sustained.
A Tense Final Stretch
On the restart, Ingram took the inside line at Hawthorn’s, passing Sutton before the Hyundai’s momentum carried it past for second place at Tower. Ingram then turned his attention to Moffat, but the Scot held the inside line at the hairpin. Sutton seized the opportunity, diving down the inside of both drivers to take the lead, despite contact from Gordon Shedden, who had been nudged by Morgan.
As the race entered its final stages, Senna Proctor, driving the sister Excelr8 Hyundai, found a gap to overtake Moffat, allowing Ingram to focus on catching up to Sutton. Despite his efforts, Ingram was unable to close the gap, and Sutton crossed the line with a margin of 2.201 seconds.
Post-Race Reactions and Results
Sutton expressed his satisfaction with the result, calling the race “absolute chaos” and praising the strategic moves made throughout the event. He highlighted the challenges posed by the contact and the difficulty of handling the car after sustaining damage.
Proctor finished third, while Shedden claimed fourth in his Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Corolla GR Sport. Adam Morgan completed the top five in his Excelr8 Hyundai, followed by Moffat, Sam Osborne, Tom Chilton, and Aron Taylor-Smith.
Final Standings and Highlights
The race concluded with several retirements and incidents, including Doble making a late charge to finish 10th after catching the pack following a pit stop. The final standings reflected the intensity of the competition, with many drivers battling through technical issues and collisions.
BTCC Croft – Race 3 Results
| Position | Driver | Car / Engine | Laps | Time | Delay/Retirement |
|———-|————–|————————|——|————–|——————|
| 1 | Ash Sutton | Ford | 18 | 28’10.541 | |
| 2 | Tom Ingram | Hyundai | 18 | 28’12.742 | +2.201s |
| 3 | Senna Proctor| Hyundai | 18 | 28’15.047 | +4.506s |
| 4 | Gordon Shedden | Toyota | 18 | 28’15.419 | +4.878s |
| 5 | Adam Morgan | Hyundai | 18 | 28’17.693 | +7.152s |
| 6 | Aiden Moffat | BMW | 18 | 28’22.286 | +11.745s |
| 7 | Sam Osborne | Ford | 18 | 28’22.761 | +12.220s |
| 8 | Tom Chilton | Hyundai | 18 | 28’31.631 | +21.090s |
| 9 | Aron Taylor-Smith | Toyota | 18 | 28’33.471 | +22.930s |
| 10 | Mikey Doble | Vauxhall/TOCA | 18 | 28’35.213 | +24.672s |
| 11 | Dexter Patterson | Cupra/TOCA | 18 | 28’35.349 | +24.808s |
| 12 | Daniel Harper| Toyota | 18 | 28’38.734 | +28.193s |
| 13 | James Nash | BMW | 18 | 28’50.950 | +40.409s |
| 14 | Chris Smiley | Vauxhall/TOCA | 18 | 28’57.010 | +46.469s |
| 15 | Matt Neal | Ford | 17 | 28’38.093 | 1 lap /27.552s |
| (15) | Rob Austin | Cupra/TOCA | 13 | 21’46.649 | Retirement |
| (16) | Harry Vaulkhard | Toyota | 12 | 20’20.477 | Retirement |
| (14) | Tom Oliphant | Honda/TOCA | 9 | 15’58.747 | Retirement |
| (8) | Andrew Jordan| Ford | 1 | 1’32.999 | Retirement |
| (9) | James Gomes | Hyundai | 1 | 1’33.204 | Retirement |
| (10) | Josh Cook | BMW | 1 | 1’33.349 | Retirement |
The race at Croft proved to be one of the most intense and unpredictable of the season, with multiple incidents and strategic moves shaping the outcome. Ash Sutton’s victory highlights his resilience and ability to perform under pressure, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the championship.
