Collard had led since depriving reversed-grid polesitter Bobby Thompson of first position on the opening lap, but notification of his penalty came through a few laps from the finish, while Sutton was breathing down his neck.
Undeterred, the duo fought on, and Sutton’s Motorbase Performance Ford got an overlap on the Speedworks Motorsport Toyota of Collard as they raced onto the final lap, crossing the start-finish line just in front despite being edged onto the grass.
Sutton got ahead into Paddock Hill Bend, but Collard fought back at Druids to reclaim the lead and crossed the finish line 0.200 seconds in front.
But what would have been Collard’s first BTCC victory was converted into eighth position, although he would likely have been classified two positions higher had it not been for his last-ditch battle with Sutton that cost both time.
Sutton, despite having the biggest restriction on hybrid usage for his victory in race two, had fought into contention from his sixth-row start.
He was into the top six by the end of the opening lap, fourth by lap two, and then passed Rory Butcher’s Speedworks Toyota on the third tour.
Two laps later he got in front of Thompson’s Team Hard Cupra Leon at Clearways and was up to second.
Collard, who like Sutton was on the soft option tyre, had a bagful of hybrid and used this to keep out of the three-time champion’s reach, but with three laps remaining both were down to just two more hybrid boosts, allowing Sutton to make his attack.
Source: Autosport