Cheshire-based Speedworks Motorsport took a win in the opening rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, Tom Ingram winning race three at Brands Hatch as the series kicked off its 2018 season.
Ingram took first blood by claiming top spot in the opening free practice session around the 1.2-mile ‘Indy’ layout and the Toyota racer claimed a solid position on the grid, just two-tenths of a second off pole position in ninth place.
Fourth place in a wet race one was just rewards, and briefly led race two, but with a quickly drying track, and cars behind on slick tyres, compared to his ‘slick-shod’ Avensis, it was short-lived, the reigning Independents champion eventually settling for eleventh place.
A quick start in race three saw Ingram up to seventh by the close of lap one, and with continued pressure, by lap seven he was on the tail of race leader, Rob Austin.
By lap 12, Ingram was through in to the race lea and never looked back, rounding out the 27-lap encounter some three seconds up the road from the Mercedes of hard-charging Adam Morgan.
The Speedworks squad leave Kent heading the Independents Team Championship, while Ingram sits atop of the Independents and overall Drivers’ Championship standings.
The series now heads for Donington Park in Leicestershire on April 8.