Tom Ingram delighted with win in trickiest of conditions

Speedworks Motosport’s Tom Ingram strengthened his position at the head of the BTCC independents standings by heading off closest rival Jack Goff in the opening race at Silverstone, but said he still has designs on moving up the overall standings.

The 24-year-old took the lead at the start in his Toyota Avensis and held off Eurotech Racing’s Goff on a circuit which was becoming slipperier by the lap.

He kept the position until past half distance, before the major accident involving Rob Collard, Will Burns and Andrew Jordan brought the race to an early conclusion.

Ingram said he felt in control of the race, despite being the guinea pig for the tricky conditions.

Speaking to TouringCarTimes, he said: “It’s really tricky when it’s like that. The guys behind you are watching to see where it gets wet and you’ve got no reference.

“It makes it hard work, but having a good bunch of lads on the radio definitely helps out.

“We seemed to have the pace over everyone towards the middle part of the race and before the safety car came out I was gapping Jack. I felt very comfortable and in control of it.”

Ingram admitted it was an unusual feeling having won despite having completed only half the proceedings at racing speed, but was happy to take the points.

He said: “It feels a bit weird now because it doesn’t feel like we have won. But I’m more than happy – it puts us in a good position for the rest of the day, and an even better one in the championship.

“Independents is the main [aim] but we are looking at the overall championship as well. [Rob] Collard lost a lot of points [with his crash] so we have a big chance to close up. You don’t want to do it that way, but we will take it.”

Ingram now leads Goff by 27 points in the independents standings and is fifth in the overall championship, still with a mathematical chance of taking the title.