Ash, 23 from Hertfordshire, comes to Team BMR from Triple Eight Racing with a year’s BTCC experience after finishing the top rookie in 2016. Right from the outset Ash made his mark on the championship with an impressive 4th place finish on his BTCC debut at Brands Hatch back in April last year and his success continued throughout the season leading to his maiden win in a very wet race three at Croft. There were two further podiums, two pole positions from qualifying and two fastest racing laps. On finals day back in October he lifted the coveted Jack Sears Trophy after finishing top rookie, a championship he led for the whole of 2016.
Speaking of
his signing Ash commented “I am
over the moon to be offered such a great opportunity. I joined the Team BMR
Academy at the end of the 2014, signing a two-year deal to race in the UK Clio
Cup Championship, with a view to working our way up through the 2015/16
seasons. That two-year deal soon turned into one, and 2016 saw me sat in a BTCC
Car. Not for one second did I think that two years down the line I would be a
part of the BMR factory team; let alone with such a newly bred BTCC manufacture as Subaru. I thought I had hit the jackpot in my debut season in securing a
manufacture drive; but now being a part of Subaru, and the package that comes
with that, has certainly topped it for me.
“I have been asked what my thoughts are on jumping into a rear wheel
drive car and to be completely honest I am I’m going back to my roots. I have
only had two years in front wheel drive throughout my whole racing career, so I
can’t wait to be back where I belong. I’m looking forward to the intense
testing program we have planned.
“Working alongside Jason, someone I have always looked up to, is
something of an added bonus for me. There are three things that have made this
academy journey come alive, those being; my family, all my loyal sponsors, and
Warren Scott himself for giving me this opportunity. All I can say now is, roll
on Brands!”
For Jason, 2017 will be his third consecutive
year with the team and we are delighted that another BTCC milestone will be
coming his way, this year Jason will be celebrating 20 years since he first
joined the championship in 1997. Jason
remains the most successful driver in the history of the championship to date and
took several podiums in 2016 with the all new Subaru Levorg GT that included
his first Subaru pole position for the start of his 500th BTCC race which
he won with an impressive lights to flag victory, the 95th of his
career. He is also Great Britain’s most winning driver in motorsport history
with 113 career victories, Lewis Hamilton is 2nd with 90 wins and
Sir Stirling Moss 5th on 74.
Jason said “I predict 2017 will bring much success, I’m energised and looking forward
to fighting for the championship. Our team goes from strength to strength. We
have a fantastic new addition to the driver squad in young Ash Sutton, I’m
certainly expecting him to be right in the thick of the action. Testing begins
in two weeks and I can’t wait.”
James Cole joined the team in 2016 after
switching from Motorbase Performance and will remain with BMR for a second year
in what will be his fifth season in the BTCC.
James brought a wealth of knowledge to the team last year which hugely assisted
us in developing the Subaru Levorg GT in its debut year in the championship and
confirmed this with a fastest lap during race two at Silverstone. James has already completed a two day test at
Donington Park since the 2016 championship ended where he gained valuable data
for the team.
James said "Winter testing was a revelation.
I worked with Jason's engineer, Carl Faux, and WOW, it felt like I was in
a racing car again. It just felt right - the balance, my confidence. I can't
wait to get back in the car and build on what I learnt in testing. I need to
deliver for the team and myself. Jason and Ash are quality team mates and I
relish the challenge to work and compete with them and help Team BMR to win the
driver and team championships in 2017."
An announcement with regards to the fourth
Subaru Levorg will be made within the next few weeks.
All of us at Team BMR are looking forward to
the BTCC season getting underway at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit on April 1st
& 2nd.
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