A PODIUM position in the British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park continues to elude Tom Ingram but he still rated last weekend a success.

He had been on course to challenge for a top-three place behind the wheel of his Team Toyota GB Corolla in the final race on Sunday before bad fortune struck and his car sustained damage after swerving onto the grass to avoid a spinning rival.

The 25-year-old rejoined down the order before retiring to the pits at his team's home circuit shortly afterwards.

"Oulton Park and I have a bit of a love-hate relationship," he reflected afterwards.

"I love the place, but it doesn’t seem to like me very much as something has always stopped me from coming away with results there.

"In terms of pace, though, the Corolla was the strongest it has been and I felt I could really push and attack.

"That's the biggest step forward we've made."

 

 

After qualifying ninth fastest, Ingram immediately pinched a place from two-time former champion Jason Plato on the opening lap of Sunday's curtain-raiser before gaining another when Matt Neal went off.

He had to defend for the remainder, crossing the line seventh.

The Speedworks Motorsport ace moved forward again in the second sprint, snatching sixth from Rory Butcher before applying pressure to Sam Tordoff in fifth place.

However a spectacular slide, and save, at Knickerbrook following a safety-car period saw him slip to eighth by the finish.

That secured fourth place on a partially-reversed grid for the day's finale.

Ingram started swiftly before his forward charge was cruelly halted on the third lap.

 

Northwich Guardian: Tom Ingram remained upbeat after an improved showing behind the wheel of Team Toyota GB's Corolla during the British Touring Car Championship round at Oulton Park. Picture: Matt Sayle PhotographyTom Ingram remained upbeat after an improved showing behind the wheel of Team Toyota GB's Corolla during the British Touring Car Championship round at Oulton Park. Picture: Matt Sayle Photography

 

"We were pretty bullish about our prospects from the second row of the grid," said team boss Christian Dick.

“It's a huge shame we were robbed of a fair crack at it through no fault of our own because we clearly had the pace to be on the podium."

Ingram and Team Toyota GB enter the series' mid-season break sitting ninth in both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ standings.

The campaign resumes at Snetterton, in Norfolk, next month.