Tom Ingram insists he is ‘more confident than ever’ heading into this year’s British Touring Car Championship, despite the fact that the 27-year-old has both a new car and a new team for 2021.
Ingram spent the first seven seasons of his BTCC career in Toyota machinery with Speedworks Motorsport, firmly establishing himself as a title contender for the past four seasons.
During that time Ingram has amassed 16 race victories in both the Avensis and, for the past two years, the Corolla, but he now has a new steed for 2021.
Joining Excelr8 Motorsport, Ingram will race one of the team’s four Hyundai i30 Fastback N cars, alongside Chris Smiley, Senna Proctor and rick Parfitt Jr.
Despite the unknowns of racing the new car, Ingram has high confidence ahead of this weekend’s season opener at Thruxton.
The 2018 championship runner-up’s confidence will also be buoyed by the fact that he won twice at the circuit in 2020, whilst he also visited the podium for the first time at Thruxton in the 2009 Ginetta Junior Championship, and won his first race in the series at the circuit a year later.
“I’ve got to admit, I’m feeling more excited going into this season than I’ve ever been,” said Ingram, who was fourth fastest in the official pre-season test last month. “Although I’m obviously in a different team for the first time in my BTCC career and driving a new car, my aims and expectations are exactly the same.
“I’m still targeting pole positions, race wins and podium finishes and I still want to go into the final event in with a shout of the overall title.
“If I’m honest, it feels like I’ve been driving the Hyundai for years – everything is coming very easily.
“The Season Launch test marked the fastest I’d ever been around Silverstone, which was really encouraging – and that was without even chasing lap times.
“It’s always hard to judge where everybody truly sits on these occasions, but what I can say is that the i30N felt good and was doing everything I wanted from it, so I can’t really ask for any more than that.
“Our testing as a whole has gone well and most importantly, it doesn’t feel like we’ve maximised the car’s potential yet – there’s definitely more to come.
“Everybody will say that up and down the pit-lane, of course, but I know we’ve got more to find, which is actually a really nice place to be in right now.
“It looks like being an ultra-competitive year based on what we’ve seen so far and it’s certainly going to be close, but I feel we’re in a good position as a team as we look towards the first round.
“I love going to Thruxton – it’s a proper white-knuckle, seat-of-the-pants ride and you really need to hold on tight, and the Hyundai should be quick there.
“Qualifying with no weight on-board will be awesome, and will reward the drivers who put it all on the line. Have no doubt about it – we’re going to be pushing for pole!”
Justina Williams, Team Owner of Excelr8 Motorsport, praised the work ethic of Ingram during the pre-season, in which the Buckinghamshire racer was firmly embedded himself into the team.
“It barely seems like yesterday that Tom agreed to join us for the 2021 BTCC season, and here we are about to head to Thruxton for the opening rounds,” said Williams.
“The time has absolutely flown by, which is testament to the way in which Tom has settled into the team – it genuinely feels like he has been part of the Excelr8 family for years.
“Testing has been very positive and productive, and we are quietly confident about our prospects.
“Thruxton is a circuit like no other on the calendar, and one that should suit the Hyundai i30 N well, particularly with a year’s development now under its belt and all the upgrades that we have brought to it over the winter.
“It’s also a track at which Tom has invariably shone, so we are all extremely excited to see what he can achieve on his first weekend. Bring it on!”