Wrotham’s Motorbase Performance racing as NAPA Racing had a wet and dramatic weekend at the lastest round of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship from Knockhill.
The weekend marked a significant milestone for the team with Race 2 on Sunday commemorating their 50th BTCC race. It was also one year since Ash Sutton clinched the team’s inaugural victory in 2022 at the same circuit, which now holds a special significance for the team.
In honour of this event, NAPA Racing UK had many plans up their sleeves to help raise vital funds for Race Against Dementia, founded by three-time F1 World Champion and seven-time Grand Prix winner, Sir Jackie Stewart OBE. All the NAPA cars at Knockhill underwent a charming Scottish transformation, adorned with a one-off tartan livery. The team were accompanied by a very special performance ahead of the team’s 50th BTCC race by bagpipers and sported limited-edition Scottish NAPA Racing t-shirts and caps, which sold out within 24hours by fans at the NAPA Shop onsite.
Finally, fans were given the opportunity to be a VIP at the NAPA hospitality for the first time, as well as enter auctions and raffles to win amazing prizes from the team’s sponsors.
NAPA Racing UK would like to thank everyone for their generous donations and for taking part to help raise a total fund of £10,235.76 towards winning the Race Against Dementia.
BTCC QUALIFYING
Ash Sutton maintained the astonishing qualifying record for NAPA Racing UK as he took the team’s seventh consecutive pole and his fourth of the season.
With the return of the ‘Top Ten Showdown’ the initial 30-minute session commenced in wet conditions before the tight and twisty Scottish circuit rapidly dried throughout the session, with only Sutton making it through to the top-ten shootout after both Dan Cammish and Dan Rowbottom picked up damage, while Osborne qualified P16. As the clock counted down, it was Sutton who emerged victorious, grabbing pole position by only 0.006s.
RACE 1
As the lights went out on Sunday’s race, Sutton made a lightning start, storming into the first corner and maintaining the lead. The excitement intensified by lap 6, as the field was faced with a sudden torrential downpour with transformed the Fife circuit into a slippery challenge. Whilst others faced challenges, Cammish climbed from 23rd to a spectacular fourth place on slick tyres.
However, despite their mesmerizing display of car control on slick tyres, both Cammish and Sutton were forced to pit for wet tyres, dropping them down the order.
RACE 2
Race 2 marked a special milestone for the team as NAPA Racing UK took to the starting grid for their 50th BTCC race and the 50th anniversary of Sir Jackie Stewart OBE 3rd F1 World Championship.
The phenomenal action continued as Sutton surged from sixth on the grid to third in only the first couple of corners. Despite a brief safety car period, he promptly maneuvered past Stephen Jelley, elevating himself to second place.
RACE 3
With the top seven from race two reversed, Sutton lined up on the third row, but a sudden downpour delayed the start. After the rain eased, the race began behind the safety car, as the field was released, Sutton charged through the field in a wet weather masterclass and stormed to victory with an impressive 10 second clearance from Josh Cook.
Ash has now extended his championship lead by 37 points heading into the final three weekends of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.
Meanwhile, after starting down in 24th, Cammish showcased his remarkable driving skills, weaving through the field and surging into an impressive 10th position.
Speaking after the weekend, Team Manager Oly Colins said: “Knockhill always offers up excitement. It’s a difficult weekend to sum up in short as there are so many takes on it. I think we all saw the brilliance of Ash on Saturday and then a conversion into a mega points haul for our championship challenge.
“Winning from the front is great, but winning when things could go so easily the other way is what Champions do so well. Cammish was looking mega in qualifying, but the smallest error had huge consequences on the whole weekend. Sam’s performance was looking really solid, but again circumstances just went against him, taking away some potential results.
“Rowbo just had the worst luck all weekend, a technical issue, completely out of his and the teams control stopped him for Race 1 and put him at the back, then again in Race Two a freak puncture just summed up his weekend. As a team, we will investigate everything in detail, learn from the negatives as much as the positives and move on in a better position for the remaining three race meetings.”
Images courtesy of https://psp-images.photoshelter.com