Triple Eight MG squad signs Cook and Sutton for 2016 BTCC
Rising tin-top stars Josh Cook and Ashley Sutton will spearhead MG's attack in the British Touring Car Championship in 2016 after signing to race for Triple Eight Racing
Cook raced to 15th place in the points in the BTCC last season at the wheel of a Power Maxed Chevrolet Cruze. He took a maiden podium finish at Rockingham in September.
Sutton graduates to the BTCC after winning the Renault Clio Cup UK last season.
He took six victories on his way to the title in a Team BMR car supported by Team Pyro.
"I'm over the moon to be working with a team and manufacturer that has such heritage," Cook said.
"The introduction of the new RML components this season is bound to mix it up, and I'm coming straight off the back of a strong first season in the BTCC.
"I want to keep that momentum going and be competing for the top step from the first round."
Sutton, who has a background in single-seaters, only switched to tin-tops last year.
"I am overwhelmed to have been given this opportunity as a manufacturer driver for MG with Triple Eight Racing in my first year of the BTCC," he said.
"When we first joined the TOCA package [in Formula Ford] back in 2014 I would have bitten someone's hand off if they said I would be racing in the British Touring Cars in just two years' time.
"It has been a dream to compete in the BTCC for a full season from a very young age."
Team head Ian Harrison said he was pleased to have two younger drivers at the squad because it would fit in well with MG's brand image.
"I have no doubts about either Josh or Ashley," he said.
"They are both young, quick drivers and they are going to be pushing MG to the front of the field."
2016 BTCC LINE-UP
Team Dynamics Honda Civic Type R: Gordon Shedden, Matt Neal, Andy Neate
Team BMR Subaru Levorg: Jason Plato, Colin Turkington, Warren Scott, James Cole
WSR BMW 125i Sport: Jack Goff, Sam Tordoff, Rob Collard
Motorbase Performance Ford Focus ST: Andy Jordan, Mat Jackson
Triple Eight Racing MG6: Josh Cook, Ashley Sutton
Eurotech Racing Honda Civic Type R: Jeff Smith, Martin Depper, TBA
Speedworks Motorsport: Tom Ingram (Toyota), Matt Simpson (Honda)
Power Maxed Racing Chevrolet Cruze: Hunter Abbott, TBA
Handy Motorsport Toyota Avensis: Rob Austin
Ciceley Racing Mercedes A-Class: Adam Morgan
Laser Tools Racing Mercedes A-Class: Aiden Moffat
Welch Motorsport Proton Gen-2: Dan Welch
Team Parker Racing Ford Focus ST: Alex Martin
Team Hard Toyota Avensis: Chris Smiley, Jake Hill
Maximum Motorsport Ford Focus ST: Stewart Lines
AmD Tuning Audi S3: TBA
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