BTCC 2021: Josh Cook snatches double from Thruxton Car News

BTC Racing Honda Civic Type R rider Josh Cook got off to a flying start for the 2021 UK Touring Car Championship Kwik Fit season with a double victory at Thruxton.

The 29-year-old from Bath took advantage of the early drama involving defending champion Ash Sutton and four-time title winner Colin Turkington to dominate the first two races at Hampshire Stadium.

Sutton bounced back to win a thrilling final race of the day in mixed conditions in his Infiniti Q50, while a hat-trick for MB Motorsport Ford Focus ST driver Jake Hill meant he finished the weekend in the lead points. Here are the main takeaways from the three races at Thruxton.

Cook’s Thruxton flyer

Cook has strong form at Thruxton: six of his 10 career wins now come at the high-speed site, which builds on the strengths of his Civic Type R.

Starting third on the grid in the opening race, Cook took the lead after a first-lap contact between Sutton and Turkington (see below), then moved away from Tom Ingram, who was making his first outing in a Hyundai i30 N Fastback ExcelR8. .

After an early scuffle with Ingram in the second race, Cook quickly regained a clear lead. He was aided when former Honda factory rider Dan Cammish (on a one-off outing with BTC Racing) fought to second place and then acted as a rear gunner until l ‘arrival.

While Cook struggled with full ballast in mixed conditions in the last race, it was still an incredible start to the season for the 29-year-old.

Sutton Roller Coaster Day

Defending champion Sutton started the weekend clinching pole position in his Laser Tools Racing Q50 and finished it on top of the podium – but endured a lot of drama between those events.

Sutton was launched into a spin after light contact with Turkington on the first lap of the opening race. A period of safety car helped him maintain contact with the peloton and he regained ninth place at the finish.

Sutton then lost ground in race two, when he was forced to make an early stop, but resumed another inspired race to score another ninth place.

The two-time champion kept his best for the last race of the day, which took place in mixed conditions. Riding on wet tires, Sutton took the lead, but as the track dried up he was quickly overtaken by the Focus of Hill.

As Hill took a big lead, the rain quickly started to get worse, allowing Sutton to come close and regain first place. The shock of the first round also affected the weekend at Turkington.

The Northern Irishman finished fourth on the road in the opener, but a penalty for hitting Sutton dropped him back to 10th. He gathered seventh and sixth in the following races, leaving Turkington with work to do in his quest for a record fifth title.