Damien Smith
RACING LINES
Sutton joined Rouse and Turkington as a four-time BTCC champ
British F4 season ended with a Kiwi at the Sharp end
The day after Max Verstappen wrapped up his third consecutive Formula 1 world title in the sprint race before the Qatar Grand Prix, the British Touring Car Championship’s equivalent force wrote his own special chapter of history at Brands Hatch. Ash Sutton hasn’t been quite as dominant as Verstappen in 2023, but in the context of how competitive and unpredictable the BTCC usually is, his feats represent a parallel match for Red Bull’s phenomenon.
FOR THE RECORD
Sutton arrived at Brands with a comfy 45-point advantage over the only driver who could beat him to the BTCC crown, reigning champion Tom Ingram. It would take one hell of a twist for him to lose it from there, and he’s too clinical, too complete a racing driver to falter. Sure enough, in unseasonably balmy conditions, he scorched to his sixth pole position of the season on Saturday – matching a record set by James Thompson in 2003 – then on Sunday morning calmly drove to victory in race one to secure the title early and without drama. Shades of Verstappen there.