Tom Ingram was deposed as BTCC champion last season by Ash Sutton, but he’s confident that he can, ahem, whistle his way back to the head of the flock again in 2024
MARCUS SIMMONS
N o longer can Tom Ingram’s name be prefaced with the words ‘reigning British Touring Car champion’, but who’s to say that can’t be the case once again in 2025? After winning the 2022 title in his second season with Excelr8 Motorsport and its Hyundai i30 N Fastback, he fell only just short last term after what on the points chart appeared to be a season-long battle with eventual title winner Ash Sutton, but in reality was usually a forlorn struggle.
Ingram is chipper, as usual. And this time, at Excelr8’s livery launch to celebrate the centenary of title backer Bristol Street Motors, he’s accompanied by his beloved labrador. In fact, this is potentially the first time in Autosport history that a driver has been interviewed while holding a dog on a lead. The amiable Yuri trained as a guide dog, before it became apparent that he had some problems with his sight, and he fell into the arms of willing adopters Ingram and his girlfriend.
Intentional or not, Yuri’s presence bolsters the Ingram image. The 30-year-old was a disciple of Jason Plato’s KX Akademy in his youth, and has been frank that the BTCC’s wins record holder was key in opening his eyes to the importance of maximising his commercial opportunities in this era where high-paid BTCC manufacturer drives are no longer feasible. But Plato’s embracing of 1990s lad culture for his image would never have fitted the Ingram personality. Instead, he’s the quintessential tea-drinking, biscuit-dunking, cheeky-chappy Englishman – with a dog. Yet he’s fiercely determined.
Take Silverstone last September as an example. This is the event where Sutton screamed his Ford Focus through from 23rd on the grid to victory in just 36 miles of racing. Justifiably, the soon-to-be four-time BTCC champion was hailed as a magician for his sensational racecraft. Yet Ingram, from 22nd in the starting line-up, had been running ahead of Sutton on the opening lap before he was torpedoed by an out-of-control Team Hard Cupra, rejoined five places behind the Focus, and stormed up to third position, just 1.405 seconds adrift at the chequered flag.
Much as they respect each other, does it annoy Ingram that Sutton gets all the plaudits? “Yeah of course!” he replies, as Yuri wags his tail at a passer-by. “Silverstone was quite annoying. I was actually d
