Adrian Flux Subaru Racing’s Ash Sutton admits he faces a big challenge in converting pole position to victory in the opening race of the 2019 British Touring Car Championship.
The 2017 champion relished the difficult conditions during the half-hour qualifying session, pipping former team-mate Jason Plato to pole position by 0.167s.
Despite admitting that the damp track gave him “a leg up,” Sutton told TouringCars.Net upgrades to the Subaru Levorg over the winter also helped him to secure pole.
“The boys have done a mega job with the car and there’s a few upgrades on it,” said Sutton. “Yes, a lot of that is just the conditions helping us and giving us a leg up.
“But comparing that car to what we had at Knockhill last year, there’s an improvement. So I’m pleased with the step we’ve made with the car and the team deserve a pat on the back.”
Sharing the front row with Plato ahead of the BMW duo of Colin Turkington and Tom Oliphant on the second row, Sutton knows he “won’t have it easy” during the opening race.
“I’d like to think I’m not going to get jumped by the BMWs! But they’ve always been very, very strong at the start,” said Sutton.
“Obviously if I get beaten by Jason off the line I’m doing something really wrong! Because obviously the rear-wheel drive aspect will come in.
“But he will be there fighting, he wants a podium, and I know he’ll want a win. So we’re not going to have it easy, but we’ll see what happens.”
With the potential for more rain tomorrow, Sutton believes he needs adverse conditions to have a shot of victory tomorrow.
“Oh yes, of course,” he said. “That’s a question that I think everyone knows the answer to. 100% need it to stay in these conditions.
“But looking at it – for race one – I don’t think we’re going to be as lucky as that.”