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 usually 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.
Contemporary from his win in the Gordon Spice Trophy at Goodwood in a Ford Mustang, Sutton was completely satisfied together with his progress.
“I’ll be sincere with you – we’re simply going by a testing programme,” Sutton informed Autosport.
“The instances are a bit of bit irrelevant, we’re simply going by modifications to the automotive like everybody else.
“Is it the proper automotive to enter qualifying with subsequent week? No, however I’m nonetheless happy that we’ve proven sturdy tempo.
“I’m undecided what the others have been as much as, however general I’m pleased with the place we’re at.”
Picture 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 general 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.
The very 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 general within the afternoon, and the sister Toyota of Andrew Watson, who relied on his morning time.
The highest 10 general on the day was accomplished by Croft pacesetter Ronan Pearson in his Excelr8 Hyundai.
The BTCC additionally introduced its official entry checklist throughout the day.
The obvious rebirth of Workforce Laborious has now moved beneath 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 workforce 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 workforce 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 finances to participate.