Ashley Sutton

Last updated

Ashley Sutton
Ashley Sutton - 2017 BTCC Knockhill (Sunday, R2 podium).jpg
Sutton in 2017.
Nationality Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British
Born (1994-01-15) 15 January 1994 (age 30)
Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, UK
British Touring Car Championship career
Debut season 2016
Current team NAPA Racing UK
Car number116
Former teams MG Racing RCIB Insurance
Adrian Flux Subaru Racing
Laser Tools Racing
Starts267
Wins42
Poles13
Fastest laps47
Best finish1st in 2017, 2020, 2021, 2023
Finished last season2nd
Previous series
2015

2014

2010
2000-09		 Renault Clio Cup United Kingdom
British Formula Ford Championship
750MC Formula Vee
Karting
Championship titles
2017, 2020-21, 23

2016
2015 		British Touring Car Championship
Jack Sears Trophy
Renault Clio Cup United Kingdom
Awards
2023
2021		 Goodyear Wingfoot Award
Autosport National Driver of the Year

Ashley John Sutton (born 15 January 1994) is a British racing driver, and four time British Touring Car Champion, who currently competes in the British Touring Car Championship with NAPA Racing UK.

Contents

After winning the Renault Clio Cup UK in 2015, Sutton moved up to the British Touring Car Championship for the 2016 season with MG Racing RCIB Insurance. He won one race in his début season, before moving to Adrian Flux Subaru Racing for the 2017 season. Sutton failed to score a point in the opening meeting, but won six races thereafter to win the championship, the youngest champion since 1966. He moved to Laser Tools Racing in 2020, and would win the championship back to back in 2020 and 2021. He moved to NAPA Racing UK for the 2022 season and won the championship for a fourth time in 2023. He also scored 12 Wins in 2023, equalling Alain Menu's 1997 record. He was also the first driver since Menu in 2000 to win the BTCC title in a Ford.

Racing career

Sutton began his career in karting in 2000 and raced in karting up until 2009, when he switched to the 750MC Formula Vee Championship. He went on to win the Rookie of year award that season, finishing 4th in the overall championship with assistance from an established 2 Car team (AMP). He made a return to racing in the 2014 British Formula Ford Championship after having been forced to sit out two and half years of racing, following a road car accident. He finished 3rd in the championship that year, taking 5 wins, 16 podiums, 4 pole positions and 10 fastest laps. [1] For 2015 he switched to the Renault Clio Cup United Kingdom, entering the championship with support from the British Touring Car Championship team, Team BMR. Winning the championship that year, with 6 wins, 14 podiums, 4 pole positions and 4 fastest laps. [2] In March 2016, it was announced that Sutton would make his British Touring Car Championship debut with MG Racing RCIB Insurance driving a MG6 GT. [3] He finished 4th in the first race of the season and took his first win in a wet race three at Croft. He also won the Jack Sears Trophy, awarded to the top performing rookie. For 2017 Sutton moved back to Team BMR. He failed to score a point at the first round at brands hatch but since has taken wins at Oulton Park, Croft, Snetterton, Knockhill and Rockingham. He held a 10-point lead at the summit of the championship heading into the finale. Sutton clinched the title in the final race of the season after rival Turkington had earlier won the second race from 15th on the grid to keep the championship alive. However, on lap 2 of race three, Turkington was hit, therefore ending his chances and confirming Sutton as the champion, the youngest since John Fitzpatrick in 1966. [4] During his title defence in 2018, Sutton won six races, the most of any driver during the season but came fourth overall. [5]

Sutton competed in the inaugural season of the TCR UK series, winning two races of a truncated campaign with Verizon Connect Racing. [6]

Personal life

Sutton was educated at Birchwood High School, where he studied auto mechanics and engineering. [7]

Racing record

Racing career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/LapsPodiumsPointsPosition
2010750 Motor Club Formula Vee Championship1130582244th
2014 British Formula Ford Championship Meridian Motorsport265410165673rd
2015 Renault UK Clio Cup Team BMR Restart with Pyro18644144591st
2016 British Touring Car Championship MG Racing RCIB Insurance 30122216213th
2017 British Touring Car Championship Adrian Flux Subaru Racing 30614153721st
2018 British Touring Car Championship Adrian Flux Subaru Racing 3061382564th
TCR UK Touring Car Championship Verizon Connect Racing 221129113th
TCR Europe Touring Car Series WestCoast Racing 200112717th
2019 British Touring Car Championship Adrian Flux Subaru Racing 3011162338th
TCR Europe Touring Car Series Team WRT 200002924th
2020 British Touring Car Championship Laser Tools Racing 275110103501st
2021 British Touring Car Championship Laser Tools Racing 3051593571st
2022 British Touring Car Championship NAPA Racing UK 30304123822nd
2023 British Touring Car Championship NAPA Racing UK 3012612204461st
2024 British Touring Car Championship NAPA Racing UK 30306143653rd

750MC Formula Vee

Ash Sutton started his car racing career in the 750 Motor Club's Formula Vee Championship driving a Storm. He finished fourth in the championship, taking three victories, coming at Castle Combe, Brands Hatch and Pembrey. He took a further five podiums.

Complete Renault UK Clio Cup results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

YearTeam12345678910111213141516171819PosPts
2015 Team BMR Restart with Pyro BHI
1
C		 BHI
2
2		 DON
1
1		 DON
2
7		 DON
3
2		 THR
1
2		 THR
2
2		 OUL
1
5		 OUL
2
Ret		 CRO
1
1		 CRO
2
2		 KNO
1
2		 KNO
2
3		 ROC
1
1		 ROC
2
5		 SIL
1
1		 SIL
2
2		 BRH
1
1		 BRH
2
1		1st459

Complete British Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position – 1 point awarded just in first race; races in italics indicate fastest lap – 1 point awarded all races; * signifies that driver led race for at least one lap – 1 point given all races)

YearTeamCar123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930DCPoints
2016 MG Racing
RCIB Insurance 		MG 6 GT BRH
1
4		 BRH
2
6		 BRH
3
10		 DON
1
5		 DON
2
13		 DON
3
5		 THR
1
Ret		 THR
2
15		 THR
3
5		 OUL
1
19		 OUL
2
27		 OUL
3
12		 CRO
1
3		 CRO
2
5		 CRO
3
1*		 SNE
1
25		 SNE
2
Ret		 SNE
3
14		 KNO
1
11		 KNO
2
Ret		 KNO
3
Ret		 ROC
1
6		 ROC
2
5		 ROC
3
19		 SIL
1
DSQ*		 SIL
2
26		 SIL
3
10		 BRH
1
9		 BRH
2
Ret		 BRH
3
24		13th162
2017 Adrian Flux
Subaru Racing 		Subaru Levorg GT BRH
1
16		 BRH
2
Ret		 BRH
3
21		 DON
1
13		 DON
2
3		 DON
3
3		 THR
1
6		 THR
2
8		 THR
3
6		 OUL
1
3		 OUL
2
1*		 OUL
3
4		 CRO
1
1*		 CRO
2
2		 CRO
3
2		 SNE
1
1*		 SNE
2
1*		 SNE
3
Ret		 KNO
1
2		 KNO
2
1*		 KNO
3
4		 ROC
1
2		 ROC
2
1*		 ROC
3
5		 SIL
1
5		 SIL
2
4		 SIL
3
11		 BRH
1
3		 BRH
2
12		 BRH
3
3		1st372
2018 Adrian Flux
Subaru Racing 		Subaru Levorg GT BRH
1
7		 BRH
2
12		 BRH
3
4		 DON
1
12		 DON
2
8		 DON
3
6*		 THR
1
15		 THR
2
11		 THR
3
20		 OUL
1
21		 OUL
2
23		 OUL
3
13		 CRO
1
1*		 CRO
2
1*		 CRO
3
7		 SNE
1
2		 SNE
2
1*		 SNE
3
10		 ROC
1
2		 ROC
2
1*		 ROC
3
17		 KNO
1
1*		 KNO
2
DSQ		 KNO
3
8		 SIL
1
11		 SIL
2
27		 SIL
3
12		 BRH
1
Ret		 BRH
2
8		 BRH
3
1*		4th256
2019 Adrian Flux
Subaru Racing 		Subaru Levorg GT BRH
1
9*		 BRH
2
2*		 BRH
3
25		 DON
1
2		 DON
2
3		 DON
3
5		 THR
1
9		 THR
2
11		 THR
3
3		 CRO
1
7		 CRO
2
5		 CRO
3
4		 OUL
1
8		 OUL
2
16		 OUL
3
7		 SNE
1
12		 SNE
2
7		 SNE
3
20		 THR
1
9		 THR
2
11		 THR
3
9		 KNO
1
Ret		 KNO
2
16		 KNO
3
12		 SIL
1
24		 SIL
2
11		 SIL
3
15*		 BRH
1
11		 BRH
2
1*		 BRH
3
3		8th233
2020 Laser Tools Racing Infiniti Q50 DON
1
14		 DON
2
5		 DON
3
1*		 BRH
1
6		 BRH
2
3		 BRH
3
2		 OUL
1
8		 OUL
2
1*		 OUL
3
4		 KNO
1
1*		 KNO
2
1*		 KNO
3
11		 THR
1
5		 THR
2
4		 THR
3
4		 SIL
1
5		 SIL
2
26		 SIL
3
3		 CRO
1
4		 CRO
2
20		 CRO
3
5		 SNE
1
5		 SNE
2
3		 SNE
3
4		 BRH
1
2		 BRH
2
1*		 BRH
3
6		1st350
2021 Laser Tools Racing Infiniti Q50 THR
1
9		 THR
2
9		 THR
3
1*		 SNE
1
11		 SNE
2
1*		 SNE
3
2		 BRH
1
5		 BRH
2
2		 BRH
3
8		 OUL
1
14		 OUL
2
8		 OUL
3
Ret		 KNO
1
4		 KNO
2
1*		 KNO
3
5		 THR
1
5		 THR
2
1*		 THR
3
10		 CRO
1
6		 CRO
2
5		 CRO
3
3		 SIL
1
7		 SIL
2
4		 SIL
3
3		 DON
1
7		 DON
2
4		 DON
3
8		 BRH
1
6		 BRH
2
6		 BRH
3
1*		1st357
2022 NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus ST DON
1
4		 DON
2
6		 DON
3
2		 BRH
1
9		 BRH
2
4		 BRH
3
6		 THR
1
3		 THR
2
3		 THR
3
3		 OUL
1
2		 OUL
2
2		 OUL
3
16		 CRO
1
6		 CRO
2
6		 CRO
3
NC		 KNO
1
2*		 KNO
2
1*		 KNO
3
5		 SNE
1
9		 SNE
2
9		 SNE
3
1*		 THR
1
3		 THR
2
1*		 THR
3
5		 SIL
1
6		 SIL
2
4		 SIL
3
2		 BRH
1
4		 BRH
2
5		 BRH
3
4		2nd382
2023 NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus ST DON
1
Ret		 DON
2
15		 DON
3
3		 BRH
1
2		 BRH
2
1*		 BRH
3
1*		 SNE
1
1*		 SNE
2
1*		 SNE
3
4		 THR
1
1*		 THR
2
1*		 THR
3
12		 OUL
1
2		 OUL
2
2		 OUL
3
Ret		 CRO
1
2		 CRO
2
1*		 CRO
3
Ret		 KNO
1
6*		 KNO
2
2		 KNO
3
1*		 DON
1
1*		 DON
2
2*		 DON
3
5		 SIL
1
23		 SIL
2
1*		 SIL
3
3		 BRH
1
1*		 BRH
2
1*		 BRH
3
13		1st446
2024 NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus ST DON
1
2		 DON
2
2		 DON
3
3		 BRH
1
3		 BRH
2
3		 BRH
3
3		 SNE
1
3		 SNE
2
20		 SNE
3
5		 THR
1
3		 THR
2
5		 THR
3
1*		 OUL
1
2		 OUL
2
16		 OUL
3
18		 CRO
1
4		 CRO
2
5		 CRO
3
4		 KNO
1
6		 KNO
2
5		 KNO
3
4		 DON
1
2		 DON
2
1*		 DON
3
NC		 SIL
1
4		 SIL
2
12		 SIL
3
2		 BRH
1
Ret		 BRH
2
5		 BRH
3
1*		3rd365

Complete TCR Europe Touring Car Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeamCar1234567891011121314DCPoints
2018 WestCoast Racing Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR LEC
1 		LEC
2 		ZAN
1 		ZAN
2 		SPA
1 		SPA
2 		HUN
1 		HUN
2 		ASS
1 		ASS
2 		MNZ
1 		MNZ
2 		CAT
1
4		 CAT
2
3		17th27
2019 Team WRT Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR HUN
1 		HUN
2 		HOC
1 		HOC
2 		SPA
1
19		 SPA
2
4		 RBR
1 		RBR
2 		OSC
1 		OSC
2 		CAT
1 		CAT
2 		MNZ
1 		MNZ
2 		24th29

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References

  1. ↑ "Ashley Sutton career statistics". Driver Database. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  2. ↑ Paice, Simon (14 January 2015). "Formula Ford Race-Winner Sutton Makes Clio Switch". The Checkered Flag. Black Eagle Media Network. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "MG TRIPLE EIGHT RACING UNVEIL 2016 DRIVER PAIRING". British Touring Car Championship . TOCA. 8 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  4. ↑ Ashby, Chris (28 September 2017). "Ashley Sutton ready for final BTCC battle as he chases maiden title". BTCC Crazy. James Mappin. Retrieved 1 October 2017. Seeking to become the youngest BTCC champion since John Fitzpatrick in 1966, the 23-year-old admits he can't wait to get the final event of the season as he bids to add his name to coveted trophy.
  5. ↑ "Ash Sutton wins Brands Hatch BTCC finale in drag race to finish line".
  6. ↑ "Ash Sutton would 'love to get more involved with TCR' » TouringCars.Net". 4 August 2018.
  7. ↑ Schommer, John (19 June 2014). "Heavy Metal Affliction 2013 Ford Formula Ecoboost 200". Forza Motorsport. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Renault Clio Cup United Kingdom
Champion
2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Jack Sears Trophy
Winner
2016 		Succeeded by
Preceded by British Touring Car Championship
Champion
2017 		Succeeded by
Preceded by British Touring Car Championship
Champion
2020-2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by British Touring Car Championship
Independents' Trophy Winner
2020-2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by British Touring Car Championship
Champion
2023 		Succeeded by
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Autosport Awards
National Driver of the Year
2021		Succeeded by
Preceded by Goodyear Wingfoot Award
Winner
2023 		Succeeded by
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