Arguably one of the most spectacular tracks on the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship calendar, Oulton Park Island Circuit provides the next opportunity for Wrotham’s Motorbase Performance to strive for its first race victory of 2022 this coming weekend.

Ahead of rounds 10, 11 and 12 of the campaign, NAPA Racing UK driver Ash Sutton – the reigning BTCC Champion – is second in the title race after a successful outing at ultra-fast Thruxton little over a week ago where he delivered three superb race drives.

Charging to a clean sweep of third place podium finishes, adding to the podium he achieved during the opening event of the season at Donington Park National Circuit, Sutton is proving the old adage consistency is key, and especially so in a category as hotly contested as the BTCC.

Team-mate Dan Cammish has endured some shocking misfortune so far this season, but his pace and winning potential is clear and Oulton Park is the kind of circuit where a driver of his quality can make all the difference.

Following a major car-fire in qualifying at Donington back in April, Cammish’s season couldn’t have started in a more vexing fashion but he hit back at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit with a brace of podiums and was extremely close to claiming NAPA Racing UK’s first win. Last time out at Thruxton, though, misfortune returned when he was the victim of unnecessary contact in two of the three races.

In the Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan camp, Ollie Jackson – much like Cammish – will be targeting a turnaround in fortunes after a troublesome Thruxton weekend. With an unusual power issue forcing race one retirement, an engine change was then required which ruled him out of most of race two as well. In the third contest, though, he gained 10 places from the back of the grid with a great drive.

Sam Osborne achieved his first outright points finish of 2022 during the last of the Thruxton races, a very pleasing drive into the top 15 from 23rd on the grid, and is aiming to add to that at Oulton Park a few days from now. Osborne is looking forward to the visit to Cheshire much more so than he did the trip to Thruxton, so that bodes well for the coming weekend’s action.

In the BTCC Manufacturers/Constructors Championship, Motorbase Performance/Ford continue to hold second position in the standings on 222 points – just 25 points shy of the top. NAPA Racing UK is third in the BTCC Teams Championship, Apec Racing with Beavis Morgan is in 12th place.

Speaking ahead of the weekend, Team Manager Oly Collins, said: “We’re back to it this weekend at Oulton with the same targets in place. With Ash sitting P2 in the championship fight it will be interesting to see just how much effect the Hybrid penalty will be for him and the other front runners. I think Hybrid used correctly could be strong at Oulton, so it will be about managing that early in the weekend and coming away with a strong points haul.

“Dan will be going into the weekend more aggressively as he needs to get back on the podium. He has a full complement of Hybrid in qualifying and has shown great pace everywhere so far, especially in qualifying. It’s the same for Ollie and Sam, they’ve both proved the pace is there and that it’s getting a consistent weekend strung together that rewards you. Both have run well at Oulton in the past as well, so let’s see what we can do.”

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