Sutton Again As Title Race Slims To Two Man Bout

The momentum is with the Subaru man, and it seems that only Turkington can stop him.

- Jack Cozens

On a weekend where two mismatched super welter weights went head to head in a fight for the ‘Money Belt’, it seemed only appropriate that the British Touring Car Championship’s title fight was effectively narrowed to a two-horse race between two cars that are fundamentally very different machines.

Seven drivers remain in mathematical contention for the crown. But, of the four who headed to Rockingham with realistic shots, it’s the two differing approaches of the juggernaut-like Ash Sutton in his Team BMR Subaru Levorg and smooth, consistent WSR BMW ace Colin Turkington that sent them clear in the points, while problematic events for Gordon Shedden and Rob Collard left the two almost out for the count.

For all that’s at stake, though, you’d have been forgiven on Saturday afternoon for forgetting that there was a title to be won as James Cole set the timing screens alight. The qualifying pace of the BMR Subarus has clearly come on in the second half of the season, but many might have expected Sutton or Jason Plato to lead the way in qualifying instead of Cole, who had only scored his previous best qualifying result of sixth at Knockhill a fortnight earlier.

Pole even came after a boost reduction for the Levorgs for Rockingham and was also the first in qualifying at the Corby ‘roval’ for a rear-wheel-drive car. Bizarre.

“I didn’t expect that,” said Cole. “We saved all our new tyres for qualifying – that’s the reason why [we’re on pole]. I thought if we got everything right we’d be in the top 10. I’ve got a front-wheel-drive car next to me, which is always good.”