Speedworks braced for tougher challenge at Donington Park

Speedworks team boss Christian Dick says his squad is prepared for a ‘much bigger challenge’ this weekend when the BTCC heads for Donington Park for the second meeting of the year.

The Toyota team enjoyed a fine start to the campaign at Brands Hatch earlier this month, with Tom Ingram overcoming illness to secure a front row start in the only qualifying session where everyone was running ballast free, before taking victory in the first race of the year.

The 23-year-old then followed it up with a podium in race two and more solid points in race three to sit second in the championship standings behind defending Gordon Shedden, although that brings with it the issue of having to carry 66kg of success ballast into the weekend.

How much that will hamper Ingram during qualifying and the opening race of the weekend remains to be seen, with team chief Dick admitting that it would create more of a challenge.

“It was obviously fantastic to start the season in such emphatic fashion at Brands Hatch, and 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,” he said. “We alsop 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 Gordon Shedden was unable to stay inside the top ten on 66kg, 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.”