Despite leading during the initial stages of the opening British Touring Car Championship race of the day at Silverstone, Tom Ingram admitted he was pleased, not only with third, but a return to form for the Toyota Avensis after a frustrating Rockingham.
Ingram made a better start from the front row than pole-sitter Ashley Sutton and took the lead into Copse. Six laps later and the MG came back at the former KX Academy ace, with Sutton completing a comeback with a dive to the inside of Ingram at Luffield.
Sutton then held Ingram behind as his team-mate Josh Cook also recovered from a poor start, though his pass to take second from Ingram was decidedly more boisterous than that of Sutton.
Speaking after the race, Ingram admitted the MG duo were a consistent concern of his throughout, even after he made good his escape at the start.
“We had it under control but I knew the MG boys would be coming for us,” he commented.
“I wasn’t quite able to hold off the attack. The move was there for Ash (Sutton). It was a strong move and he saw the opportunity and took it.”
Though conceding their views are bound to differ, Ingram also felt Cook’s move to claim second was a little unfair, but ultimately settled for the final spot on the rostrum.
“It was robust by Josh (Cook) too. He’ll see it his way and I’ll see it mine. We’ll both disagree on it.”
“I’ve probably got a really mardy face on but I am really pleased with being back on our pace and back at the sharp end. I’m over the moon really.”
Ingram will look to score one back on the works MG team in race two, when he starts third with less success ballast on board than the two in front. The race starts at 14:32.