Ash Sutton took weekend honours in Dunlop’s #ForeverForward overtaking league at Silverstone on Sunday for the second Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship weekend in succession.
The reigning champion came through from 25th to 11th in the day’s opening race and gained 15 places in the final race to take a 29 point total.
Josh Cook carved his way through the field in race two, climbing from 28th to 12th to gain 16 places, the highest number in one race.
Heading into the weekend the three main title protaganists split their Dunlop SportMaxx Option-Hard tyre choice across the three races; Tom Ingram in race one, Colin Turkington race two, and Sutton race three. The decision proved pivotal to the outcome of the results, and together with success ballast to contend with, offered up three thrilling races.
Sam Tordoff claimed his maiden pole position and converted that into his first win of the year, a record 15th different winner of 2018. Tom Chilton followed his Motorbase stablemate home in second, and elevated himself to third overall in the title battle. Ricky Collard took a first podium finish in third, his scintillating move on Jack Goff voted the fans #ForeverForward favourite.
Losing the success ballast for race two, championship contender Ingram was on a charge from the start. The Toyota driver produced one of his now trademark performances to come through the field from 14th to first, his pass on Sam Tordoff for the lead voted fans #ForeverForward pick of the bunch. Matt Neal and Rob Austin were other standout performers, gaining 15 places apiece.
The final race saw Aiden Moffat take pole on the reverse grid with Goff on the hard tyre alongside him. Ingram lined up seventh with Turkington eighth, the two main contenders set for a classic battle. The race didn’t disappoint. Moffat took the immediate lead with Goff quickly deposing of Matt Simpson to slot into second, until a penalty was awarded for a false start ended his hopes of a podium finish.
Sutton was in fine form on the hard tyre, coming through from 27th to 12th to top the #ForeverForward movers in the race. Ahead, a breathtaking six-way fight finally went the way of Moffat, ahead of Ingram and Turkington, for a 16th different BTCC race winner. Ingram extends his #ForeverForward lead to 30 points, and keeps his overall title hopes alive ahead of the season finale at Brands Hatch in two weeks' time.
Dunlop #ForeverForward weekend honours:
1. Ash SUTTON, 29
2. Mike BUSHELL, 25
3. Josh COOK, 24
4. Matt NEAL, 22
5. Tom INGRAM, 22
Dunlop #ForeverForward overall standings:
1. Tom INGRAM, 156
2. Ash SUTTON, 126
3. Josh COOK, 123
4. Senna PROCTOR, 121
5. Stephen JELLEY, 120
6. Rob AUSTIN, 120
7. Bobby THOMPSON, 116
8. Matt NEAL, 101
9. Rory BUTCHER, 101
10. Aiden MOFFAT, 98
