Four-time champion tops title rival Ingram

Ash Sutton secured his first pole position of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season after mastering the soaking wet conditions during qualifying at Thruxton today (7 June).

The four-time champ kept his head in each of his three sessions, while others endured a wet and wild time, as the NAPA Racing UK star proved to be the class of the field, ahead of Tom Ingram (Team VERTU) and Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK).

The #116 Ford Focus has its lurid moments too, as Sutton saved an early slide through turn one, but the same fortune could not be said for Thruxton supremo Josh Cook.

Cook's One Motorsport Honda was running in second during the early stages of his group, but with water now gathering on the Tarmac his car ran wide and off-track on the exit of Goodwood before eventually making heavy contact with the barrier at Village.

It was a big hit for both Cook and his car, with the ten-time Thruxton race winner going to hospital for precautionary checks after hurting his ankle in the incident.

The Restart Racing duo of Chris Smiley and Dan Lloyd were arguably the most surprising drivers not to make it through to the second segment of qualifying, as their Hyundais failed to show the front-running pace in the wet that they had during the earlier dry practice runs.

Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport's Jake Hill failed to progress out of Q1 at Snetterton last time out, whilst this weekend it was the second segment that ended his challenge, with the BMW 330i M Sport unable to show the ultimate performance in the almost monsoon-like conditions. The reigning champion will start tomorrow's opener from seventh on the grid.

The 'Quick Six' finale included some great ongoing stories with title contenders Sutton and Ingram involved, Snetterton race winners Cammish and Mikey Doble, rookie James Dorlin and series returnee Senna Proctor.

When the interrupted session drew to a close it was Sutton from Ingram and Cammish, whilst Motor Parts Direct with Power Maxed Racing's Doble completed the front two rows of the grid for race one tomorrow.

Dorlin impressed massively with fifth for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK with IAA, as did Team VERTU's Senna Proctor in sixth on his return to Britain's most competitive championship, although his 'Quick Six' challenge was curtailed by a complete loss of power to his Hyundai i30N.

Dry weather is expected tomorrow for Rounds 10, 11 and 12 of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship with a great crowd due to descend on the 2.37-mile circuit. ITV4’s race day broadcast gets underway at 1100, and remember, for the first time in the championship’s history the BTCC is also being broadcast globally – see the BTCC's TV page for full information.

Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK, said: "To come away with pole position, to top the board with ultimately three fastest laps in each of my sessions, is great. The balance of the car was there, NAPA Racing UK have given me a mega car, so we're happy with that. Tom (Ingram) kept me honest at the end there, but we managed to pull it out of the bag."

2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Thruxton – Qualifying – Final Classification: