Tom Ingram, driving for Stockport-based Speedworks Motorsport took a surprise victory in Race One of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship’s annual visit to Silverstone.
Ingram, at the wheel of the Team’s Toyota Avensis ,got a blistering start taking the lead from pole sitter Ash Sutton [MG] in to the first corner, Copse, from second on the grid.
Ingram, constantly under pressure from the MG as the Race continued, Sutton grabbed back the lead on lap eight, and was followed four laps later by teammate Josh Cook, demoting Tom to the final podium spot at the flag.
It was post-race, in Parc Ferme, that Ingram was to inherit the win, as both MGs were excluded from the results for contravening technical regulations.
Starting from Pole in Race Two, Ingram took charge from the off, but this time it was fellow Independent Championship charger, Andrew Jordan [Ford] that nicked the lead, followed by the Mercedes of Adam Morgan.
A brief Safety Car period was to follow, but Tom held on to third from the hard charging Subaru of former BTCC Champion, Colin Turkington.
Sadly a mechanical failure in Race Three scuppered any chances of another points haul for Ingram and the Speedworks Team. The Race eventually won by 2015 BTCC Champion, Gordon Shedden, in his Honda Civic.
“Obviously it wasn’t the way we’d have liked to have won the race,” Ingram told BTCC.net.
“it would have been nice to cross the finish line first on the road, but a win is still a win and we had the speed to run right at the front throughout.
“If it hadn’t been for Josh Cook’s robust move, I think we could have taken the fight back to Ash Sutton again, but we got the result in the end anyway, and it proved we are right back on the pace after recent events.”
Speedworks Motorsport sit second in the Independents Teams Championship as Ingram lies fourth in the BTCC Independents Drivers Championship standings.
The BTCC now heads to Brands Hatch, in Kent, for the final rounds of the 2016 Series, with no fewer than eight drivers in the hunt for overall championship honours. Rounds 28,29 and 30 take place on the October 2.
(Words and pics by Mike Petch www.mphotographic.co.uk)
