Tom Ingram: “I’ve got my bounce back”

Tom Ingram says he will go into the final rounds of the BTCC season in buoyant mood after returning to the top step of the podium at Knockhill.

Having enjoyed a fine start to the 2017 campaign, the Speedworks driver saw his bid to fight for the title fall apart prior to the summer break – with Oulton Park and Croft yielding just nine points.

Ingram enjoyed a more solid outing at Snetterton but headed for Scotland unsure of where he would stand at a circuit that has traditionally favoured rear-wheel drive cars.

The Independents points leader would be one of the quickest front-wheel drive racers across the weekend and romped to victory in race three after a performance that left his rivals trailing behind.

“We thought that Knockhill wouldn’t favour us in terms of getting a big score, but then we went out and got one,” he said. “The boys did a stonking job with the car and it was fantastic – the best it has ever felt. Throughout the final race, Geoff [Kingston] was on the radio telling me what to do and even after the Safety Car, I knew we had the edge over Gordon and just had to make sure he couldn’t make a lunge on the restart.

“When we are low on weight like in race three, the Avensis does exactly what you want it to do – it’s brilliant. You can beat anyone in that position and take on anyone. You have the confidence to really push and it shows the development that we have put in in recent years.

“We’ve had bad weekends this season that have hampered our challenge so to come here and win is great. It’s given us some momentum and I think we can be confident going to Rockingham as I’ve really got my bounce back.”