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Bishop's Stortford motorsport stars Callum Ilott and Ashley Sutton sign new deals in Formula 2 and British Touring Car Championship




Bishop's Stortford racing stars Callum Ilott and Ashley Sutton are plotting title challenges after signing exciting new deals.

Ilott, who completed his debut F2 campaign racing for Sauber Junior Team by Charouz with fifth- and fourth-place finishes in the United Arab Emirates at the weekend to finish 11th in the standings, has joined UNI-Virtuosi Racing for 2020.

And Sutton will compete for BMR Racing and Laser Tools Racing, who have joined forces, as he bids for a second Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship title.

Callum Ilott, Sauber Junior team by Charouz. FIA Formula 2 Championship, Silverstone, Towcester, Great Britain. 13th July 2019. (22860132)
Callum Ilott, Sauber Junior team by Charouz. FIA Formula 2 Championship, Silverstone, Towcester, Great Britain. 13th July 2019. (22860132)

Former Bishop's Stortford College student Ilott, who is in the Ferrari Driver Academy, is delighted to be joining one of the most decorated teams on the F2 grid.

Norfolk-based UNI-Virtuosi Racing won the team's championship in 2017 and has never finished outside of the top five places.

"I'm really excited to be joining UNI-Virtuosi for 2020," said Ilott. "I believe this is the best place for me to fight for the championship title as winning is in the team's DNA and I share the same hunger for success.

Ashley Sutton. Credit: Laser Tools Racing (22860130)
Ashley Sutton. Credit: Laser Tools Racing (22860130)

"The professionalism within the team, from the management to the mechanics, is second to none and it's easy to see why they're always mentioned in the fight for the championship."

UNI-Virtuosi Racing boss Andy Roche said: "We're very happy to welcome Callum to our team and we are looking forward to working with him. He is a very talented driver and showed the paddock this year just how naturally gifted he is.

"Callum's progress through his maiden season showcased his skill and dedication, and we think that he has the maturity and speed in order to fight for the title in 2020."

Coming off the back of a rollercoaster 2019 season, Sutton is looking forward to a title tilt as BMR Racing writes a new chapter in its history by aligning itself with race-winning independent squad Laser Tools Racing.

The teams will bring their resources together to field Sutton and team-mate Aiden Moffat in two brand-new rear-wheel drive Infiniti Q50's.

Signing with BMR Racing in 2017 after previously running under their academy programme, Sutton has been the figurehead of the Buntingford-based outfit ever since, clinching the BTCC Drivers' Championship in his maiden campaign and racking up 13 wins across three years.

"The team I have around me feels like home and I wouldn't have been able to achieve what I have in this series without them, so carrying that over and signing a new deal with them was a no-brainer," said Sutton.

"Partnering with Laser Tools Racing and Aiden to drive the Infiniti Q50 in 2020 is hugely exciting and the result of a lot of hard work. We've all got the same goal and that is to win.

"With the work going on behind the scenes and the pre-season testing programme that we are planning, I'm confident that we will be able to hit the ground running come the start of the year and be in the mix for some top results.

"I've got that same exciting feeling that I had at the beginning of 2017."



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