BTCC Sunday: Ash Sutton and Dan Rowbottom lead NAPA Racing UK clean sweep at Thruxton
NAPA Racing UK claimed a clean sweep of victories in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship today (June 4) with Ash Sutton and Dan Rowbottom sharing the spoils in front of a packed Thruxton crowd.
Basking in the bright sunshine and packed spectator bankings, the UK’s premier motorsport series served up a frenetic race day which saw three-time champion Sutton and his Ford Focus stablemate Rowbottom charge to the top step of the podium.
After blasting to pole position in Saturday’s qualifying session, Sutton was wheel-perfect in races one and two as he produced carbon copy performances to claim another small piece of BTCC history.
Blasting away from the front row, the front-wheel-drive ace punched in rapid lap times during the opening exchanges to establish an advantage over the chasing pack and from there, he cruised to comfortably take victory.
Not only did those two triumphs enable him to extend his championship lead but it also meant he became the first driver in the BTCC’s ‘three race format’ to claim double wins in three successive race meetings.
As Sutton romped to success in races one and two, reigning champion Tom Ingram and King of Thruxton Josh Cook ran bumper-to-bumper across both contests to clinch a brace of second and third place finishes respectively.
Rowbottom then rounded out an incredible weekend for the Kent-based powerhouse outfit as he won the reverse grid encounter in style, hunting down pole-sitter Adam Morgan before making the decisive move for the lead upon entry to Church Corner.
Starting fifth, Rowbottom wasted no time in working his way up the order and after dispatching a resolute Aiden Moffat, the Ford driver set off after Morgan - closing down a two second lead within a matter of laps.
Diving down the inside as they sped towards the fastest corner in the country on lap ten, Rowbottom soon scampered clear to claim his first win of the season while Morgan and Moffat completed the rostrum.
Support Championships
Edge-of-the-seat entertainment continued across the TOCA support bill on Sunday as a number of championships took centre stage around the home of the British Automobile Racing Club.
Robert de Haan and Charles Rainford shared the spoils in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB whilst Jack Byrne closed out what was a frenetic weekend for the Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE Trophy by charging to victory.
Wheel-to-wheel slip streaming was in full affect courtesy in the Mini 7 Racing Club as its bumper grids of mighty machines captivated those in attendance. Andrew Jordan reigned supreme in the Mini Miglia Challenge contest whilst Mike Jordan triumphed in the Mini Se7en Challenge bout.
Rounding out the weekend’s action were two more races - won by Noah Lisle and William Macintyre - from the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA.
Next Race Meeting
Thruxton’s next event will see the venue step back in time to the sounds and sights of the finest Historic and Classic motor racing in the country for the annual Thruxton Historic on June 17/18.