Speedworks Motorsport boss Christian Dick has cautioned against the team repeating their season-opening form in the British Touring Car Championship at Donington Park this weekend, as Tom Ingram faces being the second heaviest car on the grid.
Ingram started the season in fine form two weeks’ ago, securing a front row grid position in the opening qualifying session of the year before going on to win the first race – for the second season in a row.
The Toyota racer was also fast in the official pre-season test at Donington Park last month, despite also working on carrying ballast during the test.
Even so, Speedworks Team Principal Dick knows that his outfit will have a tougher time at the East Midlands circuit this weekend. Although Ingram also won the season opener in 2016, the subsequent two races yielded few points and he went into the second meeting with only 15 kg on board. This year, Ingram will carry 66 kg in qualifying and race one at Donington.
“It was obviously fantastic to start the season in such emphatic fashion at Brands Hatch,” said Dick. “To be the fastest in the field in the only race in which everybody is on zero ballast – for the second year running – proves that our trusty Toyota is inherently a very quick car indeed.
“We similarly showed that by topping the timesheets in the official pre-season BTCC test at Donington last month, but we are under no illusions that we will be in for a much tougher challenge this weekend – particularly in qualifying and race one.
“The BTCC is so ultra-competitive right now, and that level of weight will probably cost a few tenths per lap around Donington – possibly more over a race distance. You only have to look at last year when [eventual champion] Gordon Shedden was unable to stay inside the top ten on 66 kg, so we’re certainly going to have a fight on our hands.
“That said, it’s a battle we’re relishing – and with our sights focussed firmly on the bigger picture, hopefully it will be a case of short-term pain for long-term gain.”