TOM Ingram is optimistic that improvements to his machine will make him more competitive when the 2019 British Touring Car Championship campaign resumes this weekend.

The Team Toyota GB driver heads to Snetterton buoyed by an encouraging two-day test last month at the Norfolk circuit behind the wheel of his Corolla, placing inside the top five on the time-sheet in three of the four sessions.

“We’ve definitely taken a big step forward and found some more speed over the summer break – both at the factory and on the track – and I would be confident to say we came away from the test with top-six pace," he said.

"We’ve seen in previous years that short-wheelbase cars tend to go well there and I’m excited to go back knowing we have a real fighting chance.

"I think we’ll be much stronger over the second-half of the season than we have been, and that's what we always said was the goal."

Ingram reached the recess, Northwich outfit Speedworks' first with an all-new car, sitting ninth place in the drivers' standings.

The team occupy the same spot in equivalent table.

After racking up more than 100 laps during the test, the reigning Independents' champion returns to a circuit at which he celebrated a brace of podium finishes last year.

"The five-week gap since the previous round at Oulton Park might be called a 'break' but I can assure you there hasn't been much rest at our Antrobus base," said team boss Christian Dick.

"We've been tireless trying to extract every last thousandth-of-a-second out of the car to narrow a gap to our rivals.

“The Snetterton test was useful and allowed us to put lots of miles on the car around what is one of the series' most tricky circuits to master."

Ingram has fond memories of Snetterton following a charge from the back of the grid, following alternator failure in the previous race, to reach the rostrum 12 months ago.

He added: "While we have more learning to do - there’s plenty more experimenting, understanding and refining yet to come – we’re increasingly getting the Corolla into the right kind of window."

Want to catch Tom in action this weekend?

Here's what you need to know:

Timetable

Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship

Saturday, August 3

Free practice one 0930-1010

Free practice two 1200-1240

Qualifying 1500-1530

Sunday, August 4

Race one (12 laps) 1135

Race two (12 laps) 1410

Race three (12 laps) 1730

Admission (on the gate)

Saturday

Adults £16, Under 15s £10, Under 13s Free

Sunday

Adults £35, Under 15s £21, Under 13s Free

All three races on Sunday will be broadcast live on television by ITV Sport