![Ashley Sutton, NAPA Racing UK [Alliance Racing], Ford Focus ST NGTC](https://www.touringcars.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ashley-Sutton.jpg "Photo: Pat Cranham")
Ashley Sutton says it was ‘fantastic’ for NAPA Racing UK to secure a front-row lockout for the opening British Touring Car Championship race of the season at Donington Park, after he trailed team-mate Dan Cammish by just 0.011 seconds.
Sutton had topped all of his qualifying groups prior to Q3, including edging out the Q2 field by 0.076 seconds over Tom Ingram, but in a red flag-interrupted Q3 the four-time champion had to settle for second.
Sutton was pleased with his performance, even though like other drivers he felt he had left some pace ‘on the table’ due to the loss of momentum with the stoppages.
“It’s fantastic for NAPA Racing UK for the team to have that front-row lockout,” said Sutton to TouringCars.Net.
“Overall, from our performance, we were a bit unsure of where we sat. The Hyundais looked incredibly strong, but the gap has definitely closed down between us.
“In terms of my performance, I felt like there was a little bit on the table; I had a few little moments on track so it was not the cleanest of laps, and I feel like I threw away pole a little bit, but it’s such a small margin.
“We started to push on the red flag, so I used a good chunk of the tyre on that phase, which wasn’t ideal. But it’s just the nature of the beast and you play with the cards you’re dealt.”
The late introduction of a tyre stack at the chicane prior to the qualifying session in an attempt by officials to prevent drivers exceeding track limits also affected how drivers pushed, according to Sutton.
“I never felt like I did the same chicane twice! Again, there’s a little bit of margin there, but our issues, or where the mistakes were, was more out the back in sector two, Turns 6 and 7.
“The tyre stacks coming in took all of the question marks out of it, so we knew where we had to run up to. It’s going to make racing interesting if it’s going to stay that tight.
“I think we’ve got a good race car and we’re in a good place. I’ve got to get off the line cleanly, but there’s thankfully not a rear-wheel drive car there to worry about, so it should be a good run to Turn 1.
“We’ve got a good race car, we’ll get stuck in and see if we can come away with some silverware.
“It’s the first and only time we’re going to be on a level playing field. It’s not a bad feeling for both cars to be there on the front row, and for Rowbo to be fourth, so I think we’re in a good place.”