Tom Ingram says the financial benefits of a manufacturer deal with Toyota would enable Speedworks Motorsport to unlock ‘untapped potential’ on a number of development fronts with the Toyota Avensis.
The 23-year old enters this weekend at Thruxton ideally placed at the top of the British Touring Car Championship standings with a fourteen-point advantage over Colin Turkington.
He became the first repeat winner of the current season at Donington Park after scything through to victory in the second of the three races.
Ingram’s performance in recent seasons has not only raised his own profile, but also that of the Toyota Avensis package, which was tipped by some to have run it’s development curve during the first few years of NGTC regulations.
The High Wycombe-based racer, however, insists the package has yet untapped potential, provided Speedworks can meet the financial requirements of pursuing future developments.
Although he admitted the team have received interest from Toyota as a result of the success of Ingram and Rob Austin, whose Handy Motorsport machine was built by Christian Dick’s Speedworks outfit, Ingram underlined any potential deal would also need to be beneficial on the Japanese marque’s terms.
“We’d love nothing more than to be classed as a manufacturer team – it’s what Christian [Dick]’s been wanting for years, it’s what I’ve been striving my entire career for, to get in as a manufacturer driver.” admitted Ingram.
“There’s still so much untapped potential in the Avensis that we can’t do, because we haven’t got the finances to.
“There is stuff that we want to do, but is far out of our price range. Having a manufacturer deal would all of a sudden open that up – yes it would be fantastic to have but, at the same time, it’s got to be right for them. There’s no point in them throwing money at it for the sake of it.”
“It’s great that we’re getting interest from Toyota and they’re interested in what we’re doing with the success of not just Speedworks but also with how well Rob [Austin] is doing in the sister car that Speedworks built.”