Sutton takes delight from opportunistic pole

Subaru's Ashley Sutton said he made the best of the greasy conditions in qualifying to clinch pole position for tomorrow's opening British Touring Car Championship race at Brands Hatch.

The 2017 champion battled through three red flag periods and the constant drizzle to record his fifth career pole position ahead of series legends Jason Plato and Colin Turkington in second and third.

Sutton hadn't really featured towards the top of the timesheets during the relatively dry practice running but came alive during the tricky conditions to eventually prevail for pole by just under 0.2s.

"In the wet I was quietly confident. In the dry would’ve been a different story and I think everyone knows that," Sutton told Crash.net.

"What better way to start the season with a pole. Two of the races are looking wet tomorrow. Race one looks like it’s going to be a tough one for me. But I’m not a person who gives up.

"BMR have given me a mega car. The Subaru Levorg is awesome in these conditions. We just made the most of our opportunity."

Looking ahead of tomorrow's three races, Sutton paid testament to the changes made to his Levorg over the winter, which has included extensive work to the aero package of the car as well as its Swindon powertrain.

"What we’ve just done in the wet is a tick for us because we’ve tried these new things and now its showing. It shows a little a bit in the dry, but to see it all unfold in the wet is one big tick," Sutton continued.

"We’re just going to have to wait and see what happens [tomorrow]. I’m hoping it is dry and not mixed conditions. Let’s have the rain after that."