Ash Sutton took his second win of the day in round three at Donington Park. Having won race two, Sutton started eighth and made his way through the field to take his 49th BTCC win and leave Donington Park with an 18 point championship lead.

Polesitter Ricky Collard, reigning British GT champion, made a good start while Dexter Patterson, who started second, fell behind the two WSR BMW’s who both flew off the line. Series debutant Lewis Selby was tapped coming out of Redgate and lost plenty of time.

By lap two Sutton was third already, while up front Charles Rainford dived down the inside of Collard at the Old Hairpin, taking the lead. On the start of the following lap Collard made an audacious move on Rainford into Redgate. The pair battled down the Craner Curves before retaking the lead at the same place he lost it a lap prior.

Sutton was tapped by Patterson going into the final chicane, powersliding his way through it and hunting down the top two.

Further down the order, Gordon Shedden and Daryl DeLeon made contact, both put into half spins. Josh Cook and Tom Chilton were collateral damage, both suffering race ending damage.

Just as Sutton had in race one, Tom Ingram fought from last on the grid through the field, running seventh by lap seven.

Lap eight and Sutton was hounding Collard for the lead, both drivers showing incredible race craft. Heading into Redgate on lap nine, Collard went wide, with Sutton capitalising and taking the lead.

Behind the pair, Dan Cammish was lurking in third, and while he was trying to emulate teammate Sutton by passing Collard, Ingram caught up, making it a three way fight for second.

The reigning champion passed Cammish for third and was soon past teammate Collard for second, but it would be the best he can do with Sutton far down the road.

Track limits were the downfall of Plato Racing’s Dan Rowbottom in race one, and in race three it was the turn of Cammish, suffering a ten second penalty for multiple offences.

Sutton cruised to the win, showing imperious form, and that NAPA Racing had managed to make the transition from the Focus hatchback to saloon look almost effortless.

Related posts:

Super Touring 25 Years On – F1 involvement and wing controversy BTCC Round One – Doble inherits race win with Ingram disqualification BTCC Round Two – Sutton surges to win with Ingram retirement