Ash Sutton has been confirmed as remaining at Team BMR for the 2019 British Touring Car Championship season, with the 25-year-old continuing in a Subaru Levorg alongside Senna Proctor.
Sutton lifted the 2017 title with the Buntingford-based team, before taking once again emerging in the mix last year, taking more wins than any other driver (six) before ending the season fourth overall in the drivers’ championship standings.
2019 will be Sutton’s third year with the Team BMR squad, and he will be joined by a new team-mate this season after Jason Plato departed the team and was replaced by young gun Proctor.
“First thing’s first; I am bouncing off the walls to be returning for my fourth BTCC season and my third season with the BMR, Adrian Flux Subaru Racing outfit,” said Sutton. “Secondly, trying to keep this on the lo-down since the end of last year has been very difficult!
“My second season, 2017, was really the start of a journey for me, landing myself a manufacturer seat in Subaru, with a fantastic team behind it. Alongside representing our prestigious sponsor, Adrian Flux Insurance Services, pushing the program, it was simply a dream.
“To be the one to go and secure them their first BTCC title made it very clear that this would now be home for me.
“Having all parties back on-board for the 2019 season means we have all the required assets to step it up a level. With the addition of Senna Proctor as my team-mate, who, like myself, originally progressed through the BMR Academy, we’re looking good for a strong campaign.
“We had a lot of bad luck last year which cost us the chance to go out and defend the title but having been in touch with the hard work going on back at base throughout the winter, it’s certainly shaping up nicely.
“The guys have been doing a sterling job and I’m very excited about our plans moving forward. Along with our developments for the season, we’re aiming for a huge uplift. To see things unfold and watch the Subaru Levorg GT start to take shape again has left me champing at the bit.”
BMR will begin testing in the coming weeks, with Team Manager Micky Sergeant believing that the continuity offered to Sutton will again pay dividends this year.
“It’s a given I’m thrilled that Ash is remaining with the team and excited that together with Senna we have a young team that can push us forward this season,” said Sergeant.
“Continuity is a word bandied about quite often in motorsport and it’s key for both the team and Ash in order to build on and replicate our success. Much has gone on behind the scenes to strengthen the team and to maximise the Levorg’s performance in a championship that gets tighter and more competitive every year.
“Having Ash on-board for another season is the final part of the jigsaw for our 2019 BTCC campaign and the news we all longed for. Together with Senna we have a great pairing capable of running at the sharp end. One thing’s for sure, it’ll be entertaining to watch!”
Sutton will once again enjoy the support of sponsors Adrian Flux and Subaru this year, with Subaru (UK) Managing Director Paul Tunnicliffe calling the line-up a ‘dream team’.
“This is as good as it gets,” added Tunnicliffe. “Ash is a proven winner, a known entity to the team, if we had a blank sheet of paper he would have been our first choice as driver, as he would be for many teams. He and Senna bring new meaning to the phrase ‘dream team’.”