BTCC: BMW Still Fastest at Donington, as Sutton Excites

Having waited almost 10 months since 2019’s grand finale, Donington Park set the scene for the much anticipated return of the British Touring Car Championship.

Without the likes of title-challenger Andy Jordan and the veteran Power Maxed Racing duo of Jason Plato and Mat Jackson, 2020’s campaign opener promised to be a special event.

Reigning champion Colin Turkington entered the round as the man to beat, with Dan Cammish, Ash Sutton and Tom Ingram all ready to pounce on any slip up made after the lengthy hiatus.

Race 1

Having bested Jason Plato’s lap record from 2014 in qualifying, Turkington led the rest of the field into Turn 1 ahead of a determined Cammish, who regrettably bogged down on launch. Further back, MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill tagged Josh Cook, who went wide and lost positions as a result.

On lap 4, Sutton thought he had done enough to slide past Turkington for the lead, but a bump mid corner unsettled the Infiniti, and the 2017 champion found himself turned around by the chasing pack. As a consequence, Cammish entered the lead.

A safety car ensued on lap 11 when Nic Hamilton beached himself in the gravel at the chicane, with the Hyundai i30N of Senna Proctor also suffering an engine failure. Ingram and Matt Neal slid past the BMW of Tom Oliphant upon the restart.

Meanwhile, much further down, Sutton demonstrated his desire for a second BTCC title, passing seven cars on the main straight thanks to a great exit from the final chicane, claiming P14 when the flag dropped a lap later.

However, Cammish’s defence was resolute, as he won the first race of the delayed 2020 season, ahead of Turkington, an impressive Rory Butcher, and Ingram.

After the race, Cammish said:

“I knew Ash would be quite aggressive with Colin, I was banking on it. When he made his move I made mine as well and made it stick. I had a hairy moment at the old hairpin which would have been embarrassing when you’ve got that much of a gap. But I gathered it up and held on til the end.”

Race 1’s Top 10:

1. Dan Cammish
2. Colin Turkington
3. Rory Butcher
4. Tom Ingram
5. Matt Neal
6. Tom Oliphant
7. Sam Osborne
8. Chris Smiley
9. Stephen Jelley
10. Tom Chilton

Race 2

As expected with the rear-wheel-drive setup in the BMW 3 Series, Turkington bested Cammish from the launch of Race 2. The opening laps were enjoyed without much drama, and Butcher’s rapid Focus ST capitalised on this by overtaking Cammish for P2.

With ballast now in play, Cammish’s Civic slowed even further, seeing Ingram and Oliphant sailing by on lap 6. Contrasting this, ballast-free Sutton posted multiple fastest laps on his way up into the top 10, wringing the Q50 around every corner.

Nic Hamilton once more spawned a safety car on lap 9 having spun, in turn destroying Turkington’s three second lead. With the field bunched, Sutton lit up the field, bravely cutting across two cars at the chicane for P7, as well as swiftly claiming the two Yuasa Racing Hondas.

Oliphant would pip Ingram for the final spot on the podium come lap 18, but teammate Turkington would eventually see off the competition for another win to add to his extensive collection. Rory Butcher would cross the line in 2nd.

Race-winner Colin Turkington said:

“My race was made off the line, I knew the job had to be done before turn one. Once I was in front my car had electric pace, it felt even stronger with a little weight in it, which settled things down.”

Race 2’s Top 10:

1. Colin Turkington
2. Rory Butcher
3. Tom Oliphant
4. Tom Ingram
5. Ash Sutton
6. Dan Cammish
7. Matt Neal
8. Adam Morgan
9. Stephen Jelley
10. Josh Cook

Race 3

Race-winner Turkington drew Chris Smiley’s new Hyundai i30N on pole for the reverse grid race, but lost out to Ollie Jackson’s Focus when the lights went out. Stephen Jelley’s BMW 1 Series took off notoriously well, but was trapped by the front row as they shuffled inwards for Turn 1.

Jelley would eventually drop off due to sustained pressure from behind, which saw him spin on lap 6. This worked in the favour of Ash Sutton, who, starting 8th, had already found himself vying for podium places by lap 7.

The undeniable move of the day was executed by Sutton, who thread his Q50 down the inside of a three-way scrap at Coppice a lap later, scything through Cook’s Civic and on his way to beating Smiley at the chicane on lap 10.

The order would remain at the drop of the flag, with Sutton getting Infiniti their first win in the championship, as well as Smiley claiming Excelr8 and Hyundai’s maiden podium finish. Josh Cook would round out the podium.

Race-winner Ash Sutton said:

“The car is absolutely phenomenal. I feel at home in it, it’s the best I’ve ever felt in a car so we’re ticking a lot of boxes here, we just need that little luck at the end and we’ll be sailing.”

Race 3’s Top 10:

1. Ash Sutton
2. Chris Smiley
3. Josh Cook
4. Adam Morgan
5. Ollie Jackson
6. Tom Ingram
7. Dan Cammish
8. Matt Neal
9. Tom Oliphant
10. Colin Turkington

Weekend Analysis

I have seldom seen a car/driver dominate a round in any form of motorsport quite like Ash Sutton did this weekend. His hot-hotheadedness could have perhaps prevented the spin in Race 1, but there was not one second where he wasn’t the fastest car in the field.

Even in a category designed to create even, unpredictable racing, Sutton still managed to make the field look like amateurs. His car is yet to be affected by ballast, and, until then, we can’t say for sure that the title is his, but it’s looking rosy for Ash right now.

Colin Turkington once more put on a classy display in his rapid BMW, finishing top in all three Saturday sessions, but couldn’t quite manage the added weight come Race 3 on Sunday. I fully expect to see a two-way tussle for the title this year, especially without the option tyre throwing any curve balls this season.

Finally, despite COVID-19 trying its devastating best, Exceler8 and Motorbase have produced two great, competitive cars from scratch between seasons. In the hands of Smiley and Butcher, respectively, they could be a force to be reckoned with all year.

Championship Standings:

1. Colin Turkington – 46pts
2. Dan Cammish – 40pts
3. Ash Sutton – 37pts
4. Rory Butcher – 37pts
5. Tom Ingram – 36pts

Standout Performers:

1. Ash Sutton
2. Colin Turkington
3. Rory Butcher

The next round of the BTCC is at Brands Hatch GP on 8-9 August.