Ash Sutton was delighted to claim pole position on his début in the TCR UK Series at Oulton Park, with the Verizon Connect Racing driver putting his Honda at the front by a clear half a second.
The reigning BTCC champion has been on top of the TCR UK field ever since arriving on Friday, having topped the test and practice session before qualifying.
Sutton then proved his class by taking pole at the first time of asking in qualifying, with points leader Dan Lloyd alongside him in the WestCoast Racing Volkswagen, which has 40 kg more compensation weight than the Honda this weekend.
“Firstly, thanks to Verizon Connect Racing for having me here this weekend,”said Sutton. “Finlay has opted out of this round and it’s meant that we can jump in. It was my first time in a TCR car yesterday and since then it’s been really good.
“We wanted to try and get pole and make an impact for everyone that’s involved. It’s good to give the boys something.”
Sutton also secured a front-row starting position for Saturday afternoon’s second race, which sees the top ten second-best times reversed and requires strategy in order to achieve a strong starting position.
“With the second [lap] you never know where you fare up; there’s a bit of head-scratching going on and I’m not quite sure where we’ve lined up for that second one.
“The idea [with the last lap] was to be on circuit circulating with the correct tyres on, so if someone did pip us we were ready to go for that last lap.
“I believed the job was done early on, early doors, so we could sit in the pitlane and enjoy the breeze through the car and not soaking up the temperature.”
Sutton was full of praise for his team this weekend, with the 24-year-old enjoying the challenge that competing in TCR has presented him with.
“The car is mega! Pyro Motorsport and Verizon Connect Racing have done a mega job on the set-up. It’s brilliant on a one lap [run] when you need it to deliver that ultimate lap. Then, come the race, it seems to hold up well on the front tyres.
“For me switching back from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive is going to be a learning curve on tyre management, but anything is a challenge and I like a challenge.
“My team-mate Ollie will also be in the mix and I’m looking forward to a bit of battling in race two.”