Southam-based Laser Tools Racing celebrate double-podium at Brands Hatch in latest round of the British Touring Car Championship

REIGNING British Touring Car Championship champion Ash Sutton and Laser Tools Racing team-mate Aiden Moffat celebrated podiums at Brands Hatch.

The qualifying session on Saturday afternoon was difficult for drivers, with laps times only around 48 seconds and 29 cars on the track trying their best to get a clear run.

Moffat was proving to be fast and after fitting a new set of tyres, even faster.

The session finished with very respectable results for the team, which has a base in Southam, with Moffat in fifth, Sutton in seventh and Carl Boardley in 18th.

With rain forecast on Sunday and with no teams having a run on a damp or wet set-up during practice or qualifying, there was uncertainty over just how dry the track was as it was damp in places under the trees.

Moffat stepped up to the challenge and had a terrific start. After the first two corners he was up to second with Sutton in fourth and by lap two Boardley made his way up to 14th, proving the pace in his car.

At the midway point Moffat had dropped down to eighth, but Sutton was able to climb up to fifth.

Meanwhile, Boardley was in a great mid-field battle and was running 17th. And that would be where the three drivers would stay come the chequered flag.

After starting fifth on the grid for race two, Sutton charged his way up to third before some rough action dropped the reigning champion down to fifth and Moffat to ninth.

By lap 11 there was rain on the windscreens, but Sutton was still running fifth while Moffat had dropped another place to tenth and Boardley was in 20th.

Sutton worked his way up to fourth and was pushing hard to get into third place and with his title rival Tom Ingram in second, it was all to play for.

However, nobody was willing to take any risks and the positions stayed the same, but when it came to the last lap Sutton spotted that all-important gap to snatch third

The drama did not end there, though, as with just 50 metres to go, Sutton then took second place from the BMW of Tom Oliphant.

Moffat would eventually come home in ninth and Boardley in 20th.

The reverse grid draw then took place for race three, which put Moffat fourth on the grid and Sutton 11th.

After an eventful final race of the weekend, Moffat would cross the line third, just 0.012s ahead of Power Maxed Racing's Jason Plato.

Sutton, carrying the maximum success ballast, was able to get eighth on the last lap while Boardley finished in 19th.

The reigning champion currently leads the way by three points on 116, with Ingram close behind on 113 and Josh Cook in third on 90 points.

The next round of the BTCC takes place at Cheshire circuit Oulton Park on 31st July and 1st August.