Adrian Flux Subaru Racing are intent on finishing the 2018 season on a high as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) comes to an end a finale at Brands Hatch GP Circuit, for the final three rounds tomorrow (30 September).
Returning to the scene where Ash Sutton clinched the title one year ago, he is unable to fight to retain his title after disappointment last time out at Silverstone but is determined to enjoy the last BTCC weekend.
Heading into the finale and sitting in 4th position in the overall drivers championship the team are being realistic of what can be achieved and the Adrian Flux driver has instead set his sights on taking a runner up spot and clinch the most season wins in the process.
Jason Plato will also be looking to finish his season in good form at a circuit where he has historically gone well and will be looking to gain some good results to end a year that has been less than kind to the former double BTCC champion.
Ash topped the times in the first free practice session this morning with Jason going 16th quickest.
Jason finished further down the field for the second of the free practice sessions in 24th with Ash going 0.018 seconds quicker and was 2nd fastest in the timings. However, there was drama in the latter part of the session with the throttle body failing on the number one Subaru Levorg causing it to be stuck open and consequently sending Ash into the barrier at Paddock Hill Bend causing extensive front end damage. The team worked flat out on the car and remarkably managed to have the car ready for qualifying.
During the afternoons qualifying session Ash Sutton qualified 10th on the grid for the first of tomorrows three races after initially having his time disallowed, coupled with the transponder failing, resulting in him missing a chunk of the session whilst Jason qualified in 13th position after struggling with the balance of the car.
We are looking forward to tomorrows races with live coverage being shown on ITV4 from 10.30am.
Written by Maddy Turner
Images by Gergo Toth Photography