Tom Ingram plans to “kick some arse” in new Toyota Avensis

Following a winter of solid graft to get himself back on the grid, Tom Ingram says he is looking forward to “kicking some arse” in a brand new Toyota Avensis at Speedworks Motorsport.

Ingram’s future was uncertain after he lost major backer Blu at the end of last season, but he has managed to put together a budget for 2015 and is aiming to bag Speedworks’ first podium in the BTCC.

The standout rookie from 2014 will be assisted in his cause by celebrated engineer Geoff Kingston, who has joined from Team BMR and has been instrumental in putting the new Avensis together.

Ingram bagged his first installation laps in the car on media day at Donington Park yesterday.

Speaking to TouringCarTimes at Donington, Ingram said: “It’s been a bloody hard winter trying to get everything nailed, and we’ve not had the blessing of being able to lay on a beach and watch it all happen – much as I’d love that to happen one day!

“My girlfriend Laura and I have been working our backsides off – I genuinely have not left an office chair for the last three months.

“It’s awesome to turn up here with a brand spanking new car this year, so let’s go and kick some arse.”

The former Ginetta Supercup champion ended last season with a hat-trick of top tens at Brands Hatch, and he is clear in his aims for 2015.

He said: “Now we’ve come back for a second year it becomes more of a team effort to get it all sorted. I want to get our first podium more than anyone else – it’s the same for Christian [Dick, team principal] and for everyone else in the team.

“We’ve got Geoff Kingston on board this year and he has worked his magic on the car. It’s awesome looking and it should hopefully be a very quick car as well.”

It was well-documented that the older Avensis model was heavy and wore its tyres out across a race, but Ingram is confident this has been addressed for the new season.

“We can qualify, no problem, but race distance has been our brief to work on for the winter,” he added.