BTCC Interim Report: Tom Ingram

BTCC Interim Report: Tom Ingram

With 15 races to go and another 15 to go when the British Touring Car Championship season resumes at the end of the month, things have been going well for Tom Ingram as he looks to reclaim the title for the BRISTOL STREET MOTORS team.

Although currently second in the standings behind BMW driver Jake Hill, Ingram has already amassed an impressive 207 points this season – which is more than at this stage of his campaign to win the championship in 2022 .

In fact, only once – twelve months ago, when he had 212 on the board – has Ingram scored more runs at this stage of the season, his current tally being the fifth-highest midway through a 30-run campaign . system currently in place.

Things got off to a perfect start for Ingram when he powered the Hyundai i30 Fastback N to pole position at Donington Park in the only session of the season where everyone had the same amount of hybrid power available.

He then backed it up with his first win of the year in the opening race and eased suggestions that revised hybrid rules would make it difficult to win the first two races of a weekend as he overhauled Jake Hill’s BMW to take a second win.

Fourth in the reverse grid weekend finale capped a strong start to 2024 and showed the team’s hard work to develop the Hyundai over the winter has paid off – with Ingram scoring more points in a weekend than ever before . in his BTCC career.

The lack of an available hybrid for the championship leader saw Ingram only qualify eighth at Brands Hatch and after seventh in race one he produced a stunning performance in race two to come through the pack in second and take a third podium of the race. campaign.

An unfortunate puncture in the weekend final cost valuable points, leaving Ingram third in the standings heading to Snetterton for round three.

Difficult weather conditions greeted the Norfolk teams and played a part in Ingram only managing 13^th place on the grid in qualifying but struggled with a couple of the top six finishes on race day – just missing out on a hat-trick after what turned out to be the wrong call on slick tires in race two.

Undeterred, Ingram fought his way to form at Thruxton to score pole for the 100th.^th competes alongside Bristol Street Motors – wearing the number 100 on the car to also celebrate the 100th centenary of Bristol Street Motors.

Race day provided two podium positions around Britain’s fastest circuit as Ingram finished third in both the second and third races of the weekend – just missing out on race victory by two when he was given a controversial penalty after being forced to cut corners. the last chicane.

That penalty prevented Ingram from becoming just the twelfth rider in BTCC history to reach 30 race wins, but he didn’t have to wait long, taking a lights-to-pole flag victory in race one at Oulton Park for his third race win. campaign.

After taking second in race two despite being on the slower hard tire, Ingram played the long game in race three and settled for fourth to ensure he would not now lead on the restart series at Croft in North Yorkshire.

While it may seem like an unusual approach, it will mean additional hybrid power in both qualifying and the race – a fact that could prove crucial in the weekend’s points battle.

Mid-season facts and figures:

• Races: 15
• Pole positions: 3
• Grade point average: 4.80
• Earnings: 3
• Podiums: 7
• Points completed: 13
• Points: 207
• Championship position: second
• Race laps: 267/268
• Guided tours: 50
• Fastest laps: 5

Mid-Season Highlights:

• 80^th BTCC podium finish (Donington Park)
• 300^th BTCC Begins (Donington Park)
• BTCC Highest Score of the Weekend (Donington Park)
• 100^th starts with EXCELR8 and Bristol Street Motors (Truxton)
• 30^th Win BTCC (Oulton Park)
• Most poles in a season (3)

Mid-Season Results: