Triple Eight Racing have announced that their drivers for the 2016 BTCC season will be Josh Cook and Ashley Sutton.
In what was probably the most anticipated announcement of the winter, the 2015 Jack Sears Trophy winner and the Renault Clio Cup champion respectively will take over the works supported MG6s from Andrew Jordan and Jack Goff.
MG had already signed a three year extension to their works deal with Triple Eight and the signing of the young duo confirms their intention to try and develop a new BTCC champion.
MG Motor UK Ltd recently confirmed a new three-year contract extension with Triple Eight Racing in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship and shared their plans for a young and up-and-coming driver line up with an intention to grow a champion over the duration of the contract.
Matthew Cheyne, Head of Sales and Marketing for MG, commented: “MG Motor UK Ltd is proud to continue its association with Triple 888 Racing and BTCC touring cars for another three years.
“We are delighted that the team has once again been able to secure two young, ambitious, up-and-coming talented drivers for the 2016 season.
“We are proud to support the team as they develop fresh home grown talent and look forward to a successful season and many more to come.”
Josh Cook was the runner up in the 2014 Renault Uk Clio cup and took a podium in his debut BTCC season as well as winning the Jack Sears Trophy for rookie Drivers. Josh is excited to join Triple Eight.
“I’m over the moon to be working with a team and manufacturer that has such heritage.”
He continues;
“The introduction of the new RML components this season is bound to mix it up, and I’m coming straight off the back of a strong first season in the BTCC. I want to keep that momentum going and be competing for the top step from the first round. I have no doubt that the knowledge and experience at Triple Eight Racing will enable me to do that. This is an important step in my career, and I’m looking ahead to this season at being a Championship contender with MG and Triple Eight. I have worked extremely hard since the end of last season to get back to the grid – it was the only place I wanted to be. So I now have an important job to do to give back to the sponsors who have got me here. I’m 100% focused and will be prepared in every aspect, starting with my mental approach and fitness.”
Ashley Sutton was the 2015 Renault Uk Clio cup champion while driving for the BMR Restart Pyro team. He had raced on the BTCC support package the previous season in the Formula Ford championship (Which has since become the MSA Formula Championship.)
His championship win in 2015 came after a season long battle with rival Ant Whorton Eales with the two battling for race wins from the start of the season. Ashley finally clinched the title in the final round. As he was also a rookie, he also won the Graduate Cup, an incredible achievement. He is now excited to move up to the top level of Saloon car racing in the UK;
“I am overwhelmed to have been given this opportunity as a manufacturer driver for MG with Triple Eight Racing in my first year of the BTCC. When we first joined the TOCA package back in 2014 I would have bitten someone’s hand off if they said I would be racing in the British Touring Cars in just two years’ time. It has been a dream to compete in the BTCC for a full season from a very young age. Over the past two years I have had some amazing support from my two main sponsors, Global Force Group and Select Fire as well as my manager Warren Scott. I can happily say I wouldn’t be where I am today without all of their efforts as well as mine. I will continue working with Warren behind the scenes as we have a great relationship.
“I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of my MG6, the car has proven what it is capable of over the years. I have every faith in Triple Eight to deliver a race winning car as they have done over the years, so I will be putting in all my efforts to bring home some good results. This is going to be a big learning curve for me and with not much testing planned I have my work cut out for the year, but I feel I couldn’t be more ready for this challenge and I will grab it with both hands and give it my all. I can’t wait to get started and to get stuck in with the team, roll on round one!”
Triple Eight Managing Director, Ian Harrison is pleased to have secured the services of two talented drivers for the forthcoming season; “Naturally we are really happy to announce Josh and Ashley to MG Racing for 2016. Both of them are young chargers eager to build up their knowledge in this category. We know what they can do and hope to help them build their performance in touring cars throughout the season with pace and consistency.”By Marc Waller
