mountune-powered NAPA Racing UK journeyed north to one of the calendar’s most breathtaking venues last weekend for rounds 19, 20, and 21 of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Knockhill.

The weekend marked a significant milestone for the team with Race 2 on Sunday commemorating their 50^th 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 50^th 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.

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.

QUALIFYING RESULTS

Ash Sutton – 1^st

Dan Rowbottom – 13^th

Sam Osborne – 16^th

Dan Cammish – 23^rd

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.

RESULTS

Ash Sutton – 6^th

Dan Cammish – 14^th

Sam Osborne – 18^th

Dan Rowbottom – DNF

RACE 2

Race 2 marked a special milestone for the team as NAPA Racing UK took to the starting grid for their 50^th BTCC race and the 50^th anniversary of Sir Jackie Stewart OBE 3^rd 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.

RESULTS

Ash Sutton: 2^nd

Sam Osborne: 17^th

Dan Rowbottom: 23^rd

Dan Cammish: DNF

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.

RESULT

Ash Sutton – 1^st

Dan Cammish – 10^th

Sam Osborne – 13^th

Dan Rowbottom – DNF

THE TEAM

OLY COLLINS – TEAM MANAGER

“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.”

ASH SUTTON – NAPA RACING UK, NO.116:

“I’m ecstatic I won’t lie. After Race One I thought we were going to have a tough task on our hands in terms of the Championship, but with the disqualification of Tom [Ingram] and the performance in Race Two and then finish it off with a win, I couldn’t ask for much more than that. 

This is the biggest gap I have ever experienced in British Touring Cars so I’m not going to complain about it at all, but we have seen even this weekend how quick things can change. I’m not going to get too excited just yet. We are closer than we have ever been before, but we still need to be clever.”

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

1^st – Ash Sutton: 310

5^th – Dan Cammish: 220

7^th – Dan Rowbottom: 144

20^th – Sam Osborne: 48

JACK SEARS TROPHY

4^th – Sam Osborne: 283

TEAM STANDINGS

1^st – NAPA Racing UK: 525

MANUFACTURERS / CONSTRUCTORS

2^nd – Motorbase Performance/Ford: 568

Next stop, Donington Park for Rounds 22, 23 and 24 of the BTCC championship on the 26/27 August.