Laser Tools Racing’s Ash Sutton relinquished the lead of the overall Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship standings last time out, but the former champ is fired up for battle royale ahead of the season finale at Brands Hatch next weekend (14/15 November).

It was by no means a poor return for Sutton at Snetterton last month as he hauled his ballast-laden Infiniti Q50 to sixth in the all-new ‘Top Ten Showdown’ qualifying format, before going on to grab an impressive trio of top five finishes on race day.

“That was a damage limitation weekend!,” confirmed Ash. “We didn’t have the outright pace to be at the front but we dug deep and managed to come away with a third, a fourth and a fifth. More importantly, we’re in the mix for the title so it’s game on.”

Turkington’s unprecedented 60 points tally may have put everyone else in the shade in Norfolk, but Sutton’s score was still hugely encouraging and he’ll travel to the final weekend with a reduced 54kgs of success ballast onboard his #116 machine.

Sutton heads to Kent sitting second in the table – trailing Team BMW’s Turkington by just nine points – with a maximum of 67 still up for grabs around the Indy circuit.

“We’ve got a nine point deficit to make up on Colin at Brands Hatch and you can believe that I will be coming for him all guns blazing,” continued Sutton. “The whole season has led us to this point and I’m going to throw everything I have into the finale to become champion for a second time.

“Laser Tools Racing and BMR Engineering have done a mega job this year and they deserve to be in this position. I can’t wait to get to Brands now, I’ve got nothing to lose and absolutely everything to gain – bring it on!”

One honour that Sutton shouldn’t need to worry about next weekend is the Independent Drivers’ title, having moved into an unassailable lead at Snetterton as he bids to win that particular crown for the first time in his career.

“I’m over the moon to have provisionally wrapped up the BTCC Independent Drivers’ Championship though,” concluded the 26-year-old. “That was one title that had eluded me up to now so it’s nice to get that box ticked and not have to worry about it heading into the final round.”

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship will bring the curtain down on its 2020 season on 14/15 November with all the action being broadcast live on ITV4.