The three-time champion sailed easily through to the top 10 shootout by topping the first qualifying session, and then stamped in two laps quicker than the best anyone else could manage in his Motorbase Performance-run Ford Focus ST.
Sutton’s third consecutive pole came by 0.225 seconds from the West Surrey Racing-run BMW 330e M Sport of Jake Hill, and was achieved despite his being allowed the lowest amount of hybrid boost of one second per lap at a minimum speed of 135km/h.
“It’s mega,” said Sutton, who made it five out of five poles this season for the NAPA-liveried Motorbase squad.
“We’re in such a rhythm. We’ve made one change since we rolled it off the truck.
“We all love the soft tyre in general, but to qualify on it [the first time this has happened this season] is something else.”
Source: Autosport