The four-time title winner took his NAPA-liveried Alliance Racing Ford Focus ST across the East Midlands circuit 0.098 seconds away from team-mate Dan Cammish in a day session that was successfully ended by a thunderstorm an hour earlier than the chequered flag.
The morning session was dry, however featured typically slower laptimes. Drizzle prevented a lot significant working early within the afternoon earlier than the observe dried out for a interval of quick laps earlier than the deluge.
Recent from his win in the Gordon Spice Trophy at Goodwood in a Ford Mustang, Sutton was glad together with his progress.
“I’ll be trustworthy with you – we’re simply going by a testing programme,” Sutton informed Autosport.
“The occasions are somewhat bit irrelevant, we’re simply going by adjustments to the automobile like everybody else.
“Is it the proper automobile to enter qualifying with subsequent week? No, however I’m nonetheless happy that we’ve proven robust tempo.
“I’m undecided what the others have been as much as, however total I’m proud of the place we’re at.”
Photograph by: JEP / Motorsport Images
Whereas 2022 champion Tom Ingram topped the morning session in his Excelr8 Motorsport Hyundai i30 N Fastback, 0.271s away from team-mate Tom Chilton, it was the veteran Chilton who emerged forward within the afternoon to path the main two Fords with the third quickest time of the day.
Ingram’s morning time was adequate for fourth total on the day, and he was sixth within the afternoon session.
The third Alliance Ford of Dan Rowbottom popped into fourth place within the afternoon, fifth on the day, with the main West Surrey Racing BMW 330e M Sport of Jake Hill subsequent up.
One of the best lap of the day from the squadron of Speedworks Motorsport-run Toyota Corolla GR Sports activities was set by Rob Huff within the morning – the 2012 World Touring Automotive champion’s effort was adequate for third in session, seventh on the day.
Huff was adopted by four-time BTCC champion Colin Turkington’s WSR BMW, which improved to eighth total within the afternoon, and the sister Toyota of Andrew Watson, who relied on his morning time.
The highest 10 total on the day was accomplished by Croft pacesetter Ronan Pearson in his Excelr8 Hyundai.
The BTCC additionally introduced its official entry listing through the day.
The obvious rebirth of Group Laborious has now moved below the title of Limitless Motorsport with new possession, though Laborious boss Tony Gilham was in proof at Donington for the one-car Cupra Leon effort. Daryl DeLeon emerged for an out-lap simply because the heavens opened within the afternoon.
WSR has entered its fourth BMW however has not nominated a driver, with group boss Dick Bennetts confirming that the squad continues to be engaged on a deal to get Bobby Thompson onto the grid for the opening spherical again at Donington on 27-28 April.
Energy Maxed Racing chief Adam Weaver confirmed that his group will slim down to 2 Vauxhall Astras for this season, with Aron Taylor-Smith and Mikey Doble, because of the lack of drivers with a funds to participate.