Excelr8 Motorsport’s Tom Ingram is confident for this weekend’s British Touring Car Championship races around Brands Hatch Indy, despite the Hyundai driver heading into the weekend having to carry 66 kg of success ballast.
Ingram secured his first victory of the season last time out at Snetterton in race three, and that result, combined with a second and a fourth, has catapulted him up to second in the drivers’ championship standings, just two behind leader Ash Sutton.
The 28-year-old has previously won three times around the short Kent circuit, and although he didn’t win there last year he was on the podium in all three races, including two second place finishes, in November.
With pre-season testing at the circuit also having gone well, Ingram heads into this weekend’s races in a confident mood given his recent results and his form at the circuit.
“Snetterton as a weekend confirmed what we knew we were capable of, and I’m heading to Brands Hatch confident that we can go well again,” said Ingram.
“Obviously, we now have to carry a little bit more weight on the car which could have an impact in qualifying and race one, but it’s all about maximising the points across all three races and we know that we have the pace in the car.
“When we tested at Brands before the season started, the lap times we did were very competitive and that was with some weight on the car.
“We’ve worked hard to improve it a since then, and I feel we are in really good shape.
“I’ve been on pole and have won around Brands Hatch Indy in the past and just have to focus on the job at hand.
“No matter if it is wet or dry, I think we’ll be right in the thick of it and I see no reason why we can’t have another strong weekend.”
Justina Williams, team owner, is feeling optimistic for the weekend given that all four drivers – Ingram, Chris Smiley, Rick Parfitt Jr and Jack Butel – have been able to test at the venue in the Hyundai i30 N Fastback before the season commenced.
“Brands Hatch Indy is a very different circuit to Snetterton, but it’s one where we should go well,” said Williams. “The fact that all four drivers were able to test there before the season started is also a positive.
“Having shown that we can win in the BTCC, our goal this weekend has to be to fight for victory once again but we know that it won’t be easy as the field will be so close around such a short lap.
“We’re pleased with the way all four drivers have performed so far this season, and hopefully they can all come away from round three with some strong results to their name.”