A TRICKY WEEKEND OF RACING AT THRUXTON
It's fair to say that Team BMR’s start to the 2018 British Touring Car Season has not gone as hoped, with the team's trio of Subaru Levorgs facing an array of challenges across the first three rounds. The tricky season continued at Thruxton with all three Levorgs having their respective progresses hampered, either through poor fortune or a relative lack of pace in a highly competitive pack of drivers.
Race one was an unfortunate one for Team BMR, with Ash Sutton, Jason Plato and Josh Price all struggling to recover the form which made them the surprise package of 2017. Sutton did best, battling through to 15th place by the end of the race but it was still a poor reward for over 20 minutes of frenetic racing. Team mate Price completed the opening race in 22nd, while Plato was forced to retire with a mechanical issue.
The second race proved more fortunate for the trio, with incumbent champion Sutton taking advantage of a topsy-turvy session to take the flag in 11th, eleven places ahead of the sister car of Price. Plato’s vehicle continued to suffer from mechanical issues, which hampered the driver’s efforts throughout the round.
The poor fortune endured by the team in races one and two left it with something of a mountain to climb in the final race. Sutton once again led the charge up the order, and it initially appeared to be going to plan, the leading Levorg racing into the top ten thanks to some committed passing. Fading tyres and the hectic nature of the race, a common trait of race three BTCC contests, ended in a disappointing 20th place finish however, with Price in 28th and Plato failing to take the start.
Though not an ideal weekend for Team BMR, all is not lost. A title defense is still within Sutton’s reach and as we saw last year, Team BMR are fighters until the last lap.
