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Speedworks and Ingram lay down gauntlet at BTCC testing

Speedworks Motorsport racer Tom Ingram set his stall out in fine style, as the 2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship launched at the annual media day at Donington Park.

After a morning in front of the cameras and awaiting media representatives, where the BTCC’s organisers announced another capacity 32-car grid for the forthcoming 2017 Series, Ingram and the rest of the drivers were given their first chance, proper, to compare themselves to one-another, as they took part in an official test session.

Ingram set the fastest time during testing at Donington Park (www.mphotographic.co.uk)

Of the 32 drivers competing, no less than half of them have previously won races in the series, whilst there are five drivers who have won the championship outright, and five manufacturer entrants with the addition of BMW and Vauxhall this season.

Series director, Alan Gow, reiterated this: “We believe this season will set the bar even higher, with 16 race-winners highlighting the strength in depth throughout the field.

“Furthermore, attracting two new manufacturers to the grid demonstrates the ever-growing appeal of the BTCC both on and off track.”

Ingram and Cheshire-based Speedworks took the top spot on the timesheets, after the four-hour session in their newly liveried, ‘facelifted’ Toyota Avensis.

Ingram lapped the 1.9-mile National layout of Donington Park in a 1min 9.995secs, just 0.114secs ahead fellow Avensis racer Rob Austin.

Tom Ingram talks to the press at BTCC media day (www.mphotographic.co.uk)

Ingram, speaking to btcc.net afterwards, said: “I’m obviously happy with that. It goes to show that the immense amount of hard work put in by all the Speedworks boys over the winter has paid off.

“We had strong pace throughout and managed to get a lot done today in terms of the car balance and race distance runs. It’s been a good start”, he continued.

The BTCC kicks off at Brands Hatch on the April 2.

Mike Petch: Mike Petch works as photographer for Stockport County Football Club and has also branched in to various sports including British Touring Cars and the British Superbike Championship. Regularly reporting on BSB rider Christian Iddon and the Speedworks Motorsport BTCC team, Mike can be found in the thick of the action the length and breadth of the UK, with overseas events seeing him as far afield as Europe and Dubai.
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