NAPA Racing UK
Team: Alliance Racing
Car: Ford Focus ST What can you do to a near-perfect British Touring Car Championship machine? The record of success for the Alliance Racing-run Ford Focus ST last year had reporters hurriedly flicking through the history books to see which records the car, particularly in Ash Sutton’s hands, was going to break next. It also left rival teams with that sinking feeling.
The truth is that there hasn’t been any revolution at Alliance Racing. Over the winter, as well as the team’s move into a new facility, the devil has been in the detail as engineers have drilled into the set-ups and data to iron out the (admittedly few) issues where they thought they could improve.
Sutton is at the top of his game and his powers are only increasing as the 30-year-old gains tin-top nous. The smart money has to be on him being one of at least two major players when the trucks roll into Brands Hatch in October for the season’s denouement. He had the upper hand over his subservient team-mates last year, but rarely did he really need their help.
Dan Cammish
