MG will start the second meeting in the 2016 British Touring Car Championship from the front of the grid after Ashley Sutton topped a weather-affected qualifying session at Donington Park.
The Triple Eight Racing MG driver, in only his second BTCC meeting, timed his pole attempt perfectly during an effective two-lap shootout after the session had been red flagged for a second time, and was joined on the front row by his team-mate Josh Cook as the session was stopped again, this time being declared.
Both red flags were sparked by the Motorbase Racing Ford Focus entries, which were caught out by a track that started wet but dried out during the session, resulting in a scrabble for dry tyres amongst the 31-car field.
Andy Jordan, the 2013 BTCC champion, caused the first stoppage when he went off at the Old Hairpin just after setting a time good enough for the front of the grid, and in the second five-minute session team-mate Matt Jackson set a pole position time and then was caught out by a sharp shower at the Old Hairpin, burying his car in the gravel. Jackson’s time was good enough for third, but Jordan will start the first race on Sunday from a lowly 25th spot.
Reigning champion Gordon Shedden set fourth-quickest time in his Halfords Yuasa Racing Honda Civic Type R ahead of opening race winner Tom Ingram’s Speedworks Toyota Avensis, while Shedden’s team-mate Matt Neal, who leads the championship following the Brands Hatch meeting, could only manage ninth ...