2017 BTCC Champion Ash Sutton will complete the BMR Racing driver line up for the 2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.
Together with sponsors Adrian Flux Insurance Services and Subaru UK, BMR Racing has been working extensively over the winter months to ensure they have the right package to contest the championship once again this year.
Former BTCC Champion Ash will join team mate Senna Proctor, announced earlier this week, to pilot the Subaru Levorg for his third consecutive season. Since being crowned champion in 2017 Ash narrowly missed out on the title last year after an outstanding six race wins and a total of eight podium positions.
“Trying to keep this on the low down since the end of last year has been very difficult…”
Ash said “First things first, I am bouncing off the walls to be returning for my fourth BTCC season and my third season with the Team BMR, Adrian Flux Subaru outfit. Secondly, trying to keep this on the low down since the end of last year has been very difficult!
“2017 was the start of a journey for me, landing myself in a manufacturer seat such as Subaru, with a fantastic team behind it, along with the prestigious sponsor Adrian Flux Insurance Services on the grid pushing the program, it was simply a dream. But to be the one to go and secure them their first overall BTCC title made it very clear that this was now home for me. Having all parties back on board for the 2019 season means we have all the required assets to step it up a level, plus with the new addition of Senna Proctor as my team mate, who like myself originally progressed through the BMR Academy, bids for a great campaign.
“We had a lot of bad luck struck us last year which cost us the chance to go out and defend the title but having been in touch all winter with everyone back at base since the last race of 2018 and its shaping up nicely. The guys have been doing a sterling job that’s left me very excited and finding out what the plans are moving forward along with how the developments for this year are going is a huge uplift. To see things unfold and watch the Subaru Levorg GT start to take shape again has left me chomping at the bit.
“Finally, it’s great to have some new partners that have come on-board this season and I am buzzed to share these with you in the near future.”
A consistent partnership with Adrian Flux and Subaru UK
Gerry Bucke, General Manager of Adrian Flux insurance, said: “Adrian Flux is delighted that Ash Sutton returns to the team for the third year in a row to mount his BTCC title challenge.
“The sport’s fans already know what an outstanding talent Ash is behind the wheel of the Subaru Levorg race car, and the team will be working as hard as ever to keep him at the sharp end where he belongs.”
He added “With Senna Proctor in the second car, BMR Racing has secured an incredible lineup of young race-winning drivers keen to finish on the top step of the podium. It will be interesting to see which of them comes out on top each weekend.”
Paul Tunnicliffe, Director of Subaru UK said “This is as good as it gets. Ash is a proven winner, a known entity to the team, if we had a blank sheet of paper he would have been our first choice as driver. As he would for many teams. He and Senna Proctor bring new meaning to the phrase ‘dream team’.”
With the championship now being as competitive as ever, we have been working flat out since October to make improvements and maximise performance in all areas to ensure that the Subaru Levorg is a front running car in 2019.
In addition to Ash winning the overall title in 2017, BMR have won many titles over the years which include, Independent Teams Champions, Overall Teams Champions & Independent Drivers Champions and this year the team have the Manufacturers Championship title in their sights.
A word from the BMR Team Manager…
Micky Sergeant, Team Manager at BMR said “Clearly it’s a given I’m thrilled that Ash is remaining with the team and excited that together with Senna we have a young team that can push us forward this season. Continuity is a word banded about quite often in motorsport and it’s key for both the team and Ash in order to build on and replicate our success. Much has gone on behind the scenes to strengthen the team and to maximise the Levorg’s performance in a championship that gets tighter and more competitive every year. Having Ash on board for another season is the final part of the jigsaw for our 2019 BTCC campaign and the news we all longed for. Together with Senna we have a great pairing capable of running at the sharp end. One thing for sure, it’ll be entertaining to watch!”
The BMR test programme will commence in the coming weeks ahead of the official BTCC test at Brands Hatch on 27th March in final preparation for the first round at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit on the weekend of Saturday 6th and 7th April.
Find out more about Adrian Flux’s motorsport policies here.
Header image: Jakob Ebrey
