Ginetta GT Supercup champion Tom Ingram will step up to the British Touring Car Championship in 2014, with the 20-year-old joining Speedworks Motorsport in a Toyota Avensis.
Ingram will make his début in the British series having clinched the Ginetta GT Supercup in 2013 – his third title in four seasons of car racing. The announcement means that Speedworks enter their fourth season in the BTCC with their fourth different driver line-up in as many seasons.
Ingram admits that the chance to join one of the most competitive BTCC grids in decades has taken some time to sink in.
“I think it’s just about sunk in now,” admitted Ingram. “I’m hugely excited. To finally join the BTCC really is a dream come true for me – when I started out in karting more than 12 years ago, not for one second did I ever believe we would make it this far.”
“It’s been a long winter trying to put everything together. The BTCC is a colossal leap financially – pretty much the cost of four years’ Ginetta racing all rolled into one! We had sponsorship leads that looked promising only to then fall through and there were times when I genuinely didn’t think it was going to happen, which was heart-breaking, to be truthful.”
“Deadlines were getting closer-and-closer and not much headway was being made, but I’ve never given up on anything in my career before, and I wasn’t about to start now! Thankfully, I have two loyal sponsors in particular – SKYCIG and Hansford Sensors – who have stuck by me throughout, and their enduring support has been absolutely key. Both are fantastic companies to be associated with and it really is the perfect relationship; they see the benefits of the partnership and they enjoy coming along to the race meetings, too.”
Ingram adds that the increased competitiveness of the grid – with seven former champions now represented – means that simply securing points could be a challenge in his maiden year in the series.
“It will be a tremendous challenge and we need to remain realistic – it’s shaping up to be the toughest season in BTCC history,” admitted Ingram. “I’ll be up against a lot of seriously accomplished rivals and it will be my first year in a front-wheel-drive car. Looking at the calibre of the field, simply getting into the points will be an achievement all in itself, but I’m determined to do the best job I possibly can and I’d love to think that by mid-season, we can be targeting some decent finishes.”
Ingram will get behind the wheel of the Avensis for his first test at Silverstone this Friday (14th February).
“The Avensis was the first NGTC (Next Generation Touring Car) to be designed, acting as a prototype when the new regulations were first tested back in 2010,” added Ingram. “A lot of development has taken place since then, and it’s now a very strong car – I really can’t wait to get my hands on it at Silverstone this Friday.”
Speedworks Motorsport Team Principal Christian Dick is looking forward to having Ingram in the team given his previous track record of success.
“Tom has stood out as one of the brightest young talents rising up through the ranks for a few years now,” said Dick .”He’s won the title in every car racing championship he’s entered, and off the track, he is extremely professional and always presents himself very well. All of us at Speedworks are incredibly proud and excited to have him on-board, and we will give him as much assistance as we can and everything he needs to feel relaxed and comfortable inside the car and get up-to-speed as quickly as possible.”