Tom Ingram: “These are exciting times”

Points leader Tom Ingram says he feels the BTCC is going through an ‘exciting time’ as he prepares for the third round of the season this weekend at Thruxton.

The Speedworks driver became the first two-time winner of the season last time out at Donington Park – enabling him to extend his lead in the standings to seven points going to the quickest circuit on the calendar.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a strong weekend in Hampshire last season with a brace of podium finishes and will hope for similar results this time around to maintain his position at the head of the pack.

However, the eight-time race winner admitted that the wide-open nature of the grid this season wouldn’t make things easy on track with his focus on ensuring he is able to maximise his results on track.

“It’s obvious to see there is a new wave of drivers coming through this season in competitive cars,” he said. “In the past, there has been a select number of teams that had a handle on their cars but if you look at it now, the likes of Eurotech, Ciceley, Power Maxed and Norlin all have good cars with good drivers at the wheel.

“We’re seeing new winners and new people challenging for a place on the podium which means there has been a greater spread of points in the opening rounds. I think it will make it difficult to be consistent and I don’t think we’ll see someone getting in the top five or six all the time as we have in the past.

“I feel those days may have gone, but these are exciting times to be part of the championship.”