BTCC Sunday Review: Cammish, Sutton and Cook share BTCC wins on blockbuster Thruxton race day
Dan Cammish, Ash Sutton and Josh Cook scored victory on what was blockbuster race day for the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton this past weekend (August 27/28) to set up a grandstand finish to the 2022 season.
On what marked the second visit of the year to the Hampshire venue for the UK’s premier motor sport series, the UK’s premier motor sport series delivered a spectacular show for the capacity crowd that had flocked trackside.
After storming to pole position on Saturday, Cammish cruised to a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the opening contest whilst drama kicked off behind him. Sailing off into the distance as soon as the lights went out, the NAPA Racing UK driver didn’t put a wheel wrong to clinch his first win of the season.
Behind, contact between three of the chasing pack had everyone on the edge of their seats. Sutton, Jake Hill and Cook came to blows upon entry into the Complex however they all managed to emerge unscathed, despite the latter dropping down the order.
Once the dust settled, Halfords Racing with Cataclean’s Gordon Shedden picked his way through the squabbles to claim second place whilst reigning champion Sutton managed to hang on to third place.
Race two saw NAPA Racing UK’s dream day continue as they recorded their first-ever 1-2 finish, with Sutton marking his 200th race in the BTCC with victory.
Like he had done earlier in the day, Cammish dominated proceedings and had looked on-course to double his tally for the day before the team made the decision to let Sutton through with two laps to go, allowing him to secure those extra few points in the title battle.
After dropping to third on the opening lap, Shedden - who in-turn was celebrating his 400th start in the series - enjoyed a relatively trouble-free run to third whilst Hill was fourth for a second successive race.
The third and final race of the weekend for the BTCC saw the ‘King of Thruxton’ Cook charge to a tenth career victory at the circuit. Starting fourth, the Rich Energy BTC Racing driver produced a superb opening two laps to fight his way to the front.
Once there, the Honda Civic Type R racer punched in a string of scintillating laps to pull clear of the chasing pack which was led by four-time champion Turkington. Cook would ultimately romp to a comfortable victory whilst Turkington and Stephen Jelley rounded out the rostrum.
The unmissable thrills and spills around the Hampshire speedbowl continued throughout the TOCA support championships too, with all five taking on a starring role at some point in the day.
Gus Burton and Theo Edgerton charged to victory in two flat-out Porsche Carrera Cup GB contests whilst Josh Rowledge closed out what was a spectacular weekend for the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship with victory. Nelson King meanwhile triumphed in the Quaife MINI CHALLENGE Trophy to extend his advantage in the standings.
James Kellett reigned supreme in the Millers Oils Ginetta GT4 Supercup however the action was overshadowed by a serious incident on the run up to Woodham Hill. As a result of the impact, the drivers involved, Colin White and Mike Brown, were taken to hospital for care and are in stable condition.
Closing out the weekend’s action was a third and final race from the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA. Alex Dunne wrote his name into the history books as he claimed a record-breaking 11th win of the season, leading home Ugo Ugocukwu and Louis Sharp.
BTCC returns to Thruxton in 2023
The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will return in 2023, with the series scheduled to descend on Thruxton on the weekend of June 3/4. Look out for discounted advance tickets available in the run-up to Christmas.