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
Starts243
Wins39
Poles13
Fastest laps42
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 6001695*1st*


* Season still in progress.

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
SNE
2
SNE
3
THR
1
THR
2
THR
3
OUL
1
OUL
2
OUL
3
CRO
1
CRO
2
CRO
3
KNO
1
KNO
2
KNO
3
DON
1
DON
2
DON
3
SIL
1
SIL
2
SIL
3
BRH
1
BRH
2
BRH
3
1st*95*

* Season still in progress.

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


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Austin</span> British racing driver (born 1981)

Robert Christopher Austin is a British racing driver who formerly competed in the British Touring Car Championship. He was born in Evesham, Worcestershire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Reid</span> British racing driver (born 1957)

Robert Anthony Maxwell Reid is a British racing driver, born on 17 May 1957 in Glasgow, Scotland. He was educated at Loretto School in Edinburgh. He lives in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Plato</span> British racing driver (born 1967)

Timothy Jason Plato is a British racing driver who last competed in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) for BTC Racing. He has twice been BTCC Champion, in 2001 for Vauxhall and 2010 for Silverline Chevrolet. He has finished in the top 3 in the Championship 12 times and holds the record for the most overall race wins in the BTCC. He has also served as a presenter on the motoring television series Fifth Gear since 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alain Menu</span> Swiss racing driver (born 1963)

Alain Menu is a Swiss racing driver who is currently working for Team BMR as a driving coach. He was one of the most successful touring car drivers of the 1990s, winning the prestigious British Touring Car Championship twice. He drove for Chevrolet in the World Touring Car Championship between 2005 and 2012 with a best finish of second in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fabrizio Giovanardi</span> Italian racing driver (born 1966)

Fabrizio Giovanardi is an Italian racing driver. During his career he has won ten touring car titles, including European and British crowns making him the most successful touring car driver worldwide. He has spent the majority of his career racing for Alfa Romeo and Vauxhall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Turkington</span> British racing driver (born 1982)

Colin Henry Turkington is a British racing driver from Northern Ireland who competes in the British Touring Car Championship for Team BMW. He is a 4 time BTCC champion, winning the title in 2009, 2014, 2018 and 2019, having made his debut in the series in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Collard</span> British racing driver (born 1968)

Robert John Collard is a British auto racing driver from Hampshire, best known for racing in the British Touring Car Championship, winning two races in a West Surrey Racing MG, and claiming the Independent's Cup title in 2003. In 2008, he returned to running the series full-time, driving for the Motorbase Performance team, where he remained for 2009, before returning to West Surrey Racing. Collard also owns his own demolition firm, R Collard Ltd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Jelley</span> British racing driver (born 1982)

Stephen David Jelley is a British racing driver currently competing in the British Touring Car Championship with Team BMW.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Jordan (racing driver)</span> British racing driver (born 1989)

Andrew Phillip Jordan is a British racing driver, who has driven in the British Touring Car Championship. He was the 2013 British Touring Car Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 British Touring Car Championship</span> Sports season

The 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 52nd British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season. It began at Brands Hatch on the Indy layout on 5 April and finished after 30 races over 10 events on the Grand Prix layout at Brands Hatch on 4 October. Colin Turkington won the championship for the first time, ahead of Jason Plato and Fabrizio Giovanardi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Glew</span> British racing driver and commentator (born 1983)

Philip James Glew is a British racing driver. He has previously competed in the British Touring Car Championship and British GT Championship. He is currently a commentator for ITV Sport's coverage support races on the TOCA Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Tordoff</span> British racing driver (born 1989)

Samuel Lewis Tordoff is a British racing driver best known for his appearances in the British Touring Car Championship. He is the grandson of rally driver and car dealer Jack Tordoff. Tordoff finished second overall in the 2016 British Touring Car Championship, 2 points behind Gordon Shedden. Tordoff supports his racing career with his day-to-day job as an accountant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Byford</span> British racing driver (born 1972)

Martin Byford is a British racing driver from Colchester. He competed in the BTCC in 2011 for AmD Milltek. He is currently driving for BPM Motorsport in the 2019 Dunlop Endurance Championship with Ashley Woodman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Árón Taylor-Smith</span> Irish racing driver (born 1989)

Árón Taylor-Smith is an Irish racing driver currently competing in the British Touring Car Championship for Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing. He is the younger brother of former VX Racing BTCC driver Gavin Smith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Ingram</span> British racing driver (born 1993)

Tom Ingram is a British racing driver, currently racing in the British Touring Car Championship for Team Bristol Street Motors. Having won the Ginetta Junior Championship in 2010 and the G50 class of the Ginetta GT Supercup in 2011, Ingram was named a British Racing Drivers' Club Rising Star in 2011. He won his first BTCC race at the first round of the 2016 season at Brands Hatch. Ingram is the 2022 British Touring Car champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 British Touring Car Championship</span> Sports season

The 2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship was a multi-event motor racing championship for production-based touring cars held across England and Scotland. The championship features a mix of professional motor racing teams and privately funded amateur drivers competing in highly modified versions of Family cars which are sold to the general public and conform to the technical regulations for the championship. It is one of the most popular domestic motor racing series in the United Kingdom, with an extensive program of support categories built up around the BTCC centrepiece. It was the 56th British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warren Scott</span> British racing driver (born 1971)

Warren George Scott is a British racing driver. He has previously competed in the British Touring Car Championship with his self-run Team BMR. He has also raced in the British Superbike Championship.

Team BMR was a British motor racing team based in Buntingford, Hertfordshire and founded by Warren Scott. The team raced in the British Touring Car Championship between 2013 and 2019 after previously entering the 2004 British Superbike Championship season as BMR Racing. During the winter of 2013, Scott purchased Tony Gilham Racing's assets, including their four NGTC race cars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 British Touring Car Championship</span>

The 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship was a motor racing championship for production-based touring cars held across England and Scotland. The championship featured a mix of professional motor racing teams and privately funded amateur drivers competing in highly modified versions of family cars which are sold to the general public and conform to the technical regulations for the championship. The 2017 season was the 60th British Touring Car Championship season and the seventh season for cars conforming to the Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC) technical specification.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rory Butcher</span> British racing driver (born 1987)

Rory Butcher is a British racing driver from Kirkcaldy, Scotland, currently competing in the British Touring Car Championship with Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, having made his debut in the BTCC for Motorbase Performance in August 2017. Butcher has also competed in several other series during his career, including the Scottish Formula Ford Championship, the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain, the British Formula Ford Championship, the British GT Championship and the European Le Mans Series.

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
Incumbent
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Autosport Awards
National Driver of the Year
2021		Succeeded by
Preceded by Goodyear Wingfoot Award
Winner
2023 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.