'Damage limitation' for defending champion Sutton at Donington

Defending British Touring Car champion Ashley Sutton has taken the positives from another weekend of 'damage limitation' after emerging from Donington Park still sitting fifth in the drivers' standings.

Running the Swindon power unit for the first time season, the Adrian Flux Subaru Racing driver scored a total of 23-points during the course of the three races, keeping Sutton within striking distance of the championship leaders.

Sutton had to earn his points the hard way, however, as an unscheduled engine prior to qualifying meant the reigning champion was only able to register a single flying lap during the 30-minute shootout, which left him 22nd on the grid for the opening race.

Having clawed his back into contention with a 12th place finish in race one, Sutton ended a valiant fightback up the order with a top-six result during the reverse grid encounter.

"It was a damage limitation weekend for us. It wasn’t great because it meant we were on the back foot," Sutton told Crash.net.

"The engine change before qualifying really put us up against it. But we picked away at it as we always do and we’ve come away with some healthy points.

"We’ve stayed in the same place in the championship so I’m pleased with that."

Sixth position in race three was a particular bonus for Sutton after reigning champion admitted his initial aim was to remain within the top-12 having elected to run the slower hard tyre in the reverse grid race.

"It was a really tricky one [in race three]," Sutton continued.

"I was originally aiming to try and stay in the top-12. So to come away in the top-six, I’m really pleased with that."

With Subaru seemingly struggling to compete with the other outfits in the speed traps at this stage in the season, Sutton admits his he and his BMR squad are having to maximise everything in different areas to maintain their current points tally.

Nevertheless, Sutton has already scored 15-points than he managed at this stage of the season last year.

"When you haven’t got the straight-line speed you have to try and make up for it in the corners and that’s exactly what we’re doing. We’re just maximising our race craft and race performance and that’s what is getting us the results," the Subaru driver explained.

"It’s still not perfect. We’ve still got a few teething issues that reoccurred from Brands Hatch. I think once we get those sorted, it will help again."