Ash Sutton Sets Blistering Pace in Opening Practice at Thruxton
===========================================================
The Alliance Racing driver, Ash Sutton, dominated the opening British Touring Car Championship practice session at Thruxton, setting the fastest lap time in a session marked by light showers. According to Touring Car Times, Sutton left it late to post a series of quick laps, securing the top spot on the timesheets.
The session, which took place on the high-speed Hampshire circuit, was affected by intermittent rain, but the track never became wet enough for drivers to switch to wet tyre compounds. Despite these challenging conditions, Sutton made the best of the situation, setting a pace that left his competitors in his wake. As Touring Car Times reports, “Leaving it late until the final moments of the session, the Alliance Racing driver punched in a number of quick laps to claim the early bragging rights around the high-speed Hampshire venue.”
Behind Sutton, Aiden Moffat and Jake Hill finished second and third in their West Surrey Racing BMWs, while the Hyundai duo of Daniel Lloyd and Adam Morgan completed the top five. Charles Rainford continued to demonstrate his front-running speed in his BMW 330i M Sport, posting the sixth fastest time, with Dan Cammish hot on his heels in seventh. Touring Car Times notes that “With intermittent rain falling throughout, the track was never wet enough for drivers to make the switch to the wet tyre compound however it was Sutton that made the best of the conditions.”
The top ten was completed by three-time champion and lead Toyota driver Gordon Shedden, Dan Rowbottom, and the returning Senna Proctor, who is making his first appearance of the season with EXCELR8. As the session came to a close, attention turned to the upcoming Free Practice 2, which is scheduled to get underway at 12:00.
Sutton’s impressive performance in the opening practice session has set the tone for what promises to be a thrilling British Touring Car Championship event at Thruxton. The four-time champion will be looking to build on his momentum in the second practice session, as he seeks to secure a strong grid position for the races to come.
The British Touring Car Championship is one of the most competitive and popular touring car series in the world, with a rich history and a reputation for producing exciting and unpredictable racing. Thruxton, with its high-speed circuit and challenging weather conditions, is one of the standout events on the championship calendar. As Touring Car Times reports, the stage is set for an action-packed weekend of racing, with drivers and teams vying for glory and championship points.
The championship is at a critical juncture, with several drivers in contention for the title. Sutton, with his impressive performance in the opening practice session, has sent a clear message to his rivals that he is a force to be reckoned with. As the season progresses, fans and competitors alike will be eagerly anticipating the next round of action, which promises to be just as thrilling and unpredictable as the opening practice session at Thruxton.
Original Source: Touring Car Times – Ash Sutton fastest in opening practice at Thruxton.
Source link
