Ashley Sutton storms to pole on Saturday at BTCC Brands Hatch

The field were powerless to resist an imperious drive from Ashley Sutton in the British Touring Car Championship Race to Pole at Brands Hatch, with the NAPA Racing driver leading from the first lap.

Although Sutton could only place his Ford Focus P5 for the Race to pole, he benefitted from contact between pole sitter Tom Ingram and Daryl De Leon.

Ingram continued his seasonal form by topping the timesheets in the initial Qualifying session, as his 47.310s lap a tenth quicker than anybody else.

Tom Ingram top again in BTCC timed Qualifying

In the traditional timed session, it was Tom Ingram who topped the charts. His Group 1 time of 47.310s was enough to allow him to lead the field away for the Race to Pole.

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The reigning champion was supreme in Group 1, with his Team Vertu Hyundai looking like one of the cars to beat through the opening rounds of this season.

Ingram treated himself to a rest by jumping out of the car with three minutes to go, showing confidence in his outing. Daryl De Leon would challenge with a time of 47.415s, while Ashley Sutton and Mikey Doble were also within two tenths of Ingram.

Elsewhere in Group 1, James Dorlin was unable to find pace after a water leak forced Restart Racing to replace his engine before Qualifying.

Dan Cammish topped the charts in Group 2 with a 47.410, with Ricky Collard, Adam Morgan, and Dexter Patterson all following within a tenth.

Despite Saturday heroics at Donington, Daniel Rowbottom fell away from the rest of the Group 2 drivers with a 47.835, four tenths off his session’s pace.

As a result of Ingram’s lap, Group 1 took the pole side of the grid for the Qualifying Race.

Ashley Sutton runs away with the Race to Pole

Tom Ingram avoided a Donington-like penalty and led the field away down to Paddock Hill Bend. Excellent starts from Ashley Sutton and Daryl De Leon also put them in contention.

Contact between De Leon and Ingram saw Ingram sent wide at Graham Hill Bend and Sutton inherit the race lead. Although losing out momentarily, Ingram recovered to stay within reach of the frontrunners.

Much like the first lap, contact between Adam Morgan and Charles Rainford saw Rainford out of control and pushing Tom Chilton wide at Graham Hill Bend one lap later.

Sutton’s lead looked imperious through eight laps, with De Leon and Dan Cammish following behind.

An excellent move from Josh Cook saw his Corolla dive down the inside of Sam Osborne at Turn 1, while James Dorlin recovered his car to within a points scoring position.

Rainford continued to be in the wars as contact with Daniel Rowbottom at Paddock Hill Bend saw Rowbottom get one back, and his position, into Druids.

Árón Taylor-Smith sent one around the outside of Gordon Shedden at Graham Hill Bend on lap 11, with the two MB Motorsport drivers colliding and Shedden saving quite the tank-slapper. Just before, Nicolas Hamilton rolled into the pit lane having struggled for pace all day, and only emerged to finish two laps down.

Most of the battling took place towards the lower reaches of the field, as the MB Corollas continued to battle. A massive lock-up from Cook saw him off into the run-off at Druids, and forced to pit.

Daryl De Leon ran wide at Clearways on the final lap, dragging his outside tyres through the gravel, but had enough power to fend off those behind on his run to the line.

Having enjoyed quite the quiet race since his charge from fifth, Sutton ran professionally to take the chequered flag and start on pole for Sunday’s first race.