Team Toyota GB’s Tom Ingram says he is not allowing himself to “get carried away” after his maiden Corolla victory last time out, believing there is “still a lot of development” to come on the new car.
Ingram controlled the final encounter at Donington Park three weeks ago to secure the first victory for the new-for-2019 Toyota Corolla.
The 2018 runner-up believes he’s in a “nice position” ahead of Thruxton this weekend, and is aiming for a solid points haul to keep him in the championship hunt.
“I’m feeling excited, and the target for the weekend has to be three good, solid points-scoring finishes,” he said.
“We’re close to the top of the table points-wise but not carrying too much ballast, which is a nice position to be in – we’ve learned over the past couple of seasons that leading the championship at this stage can make your life very difficult in qualifying and race one.
“We still have a lot of development to come with the Corolla, and as we have always said, we expect to be much stronger over the second half of the year. To win so early on was really a bonus, but we’re not getting carried away as we are well aware that there remains a big challenge ahead.”
One of those challenges is the high-speed Thruxton circuit itself, one which Ingram admits is “even more important” as the series visits the Hampshire circuit twice this season, the second time later this year in mid-August.
“With the BTCC going to Thruxton twice this year, it’s even more important to get to grips with everything quickly because there are double the points on offer, but we left feeling quietly confident and will return in the same mindset,” he explained.
“Thruxton’s high-speed nature and succession of quick corners results in high tyre degradation, and the slower sections towards the start and end of the lap make it tricky to strike the optimum set-up, but there’s no question that it’s an incredible challenge from a driver’s perspective.
“You always tighten your belts a bit before you get to Noble, Goodwood and Church, which are three of the fastest corners in British motorsport. You’re properly hanging on through there – real edge-of-the-seat stuff.”