BTCC 2018: Ingram leads youth charge at Donington

BTCC Donington
Ingram took second race win of 2018
Ingram, Cook and Morgan bag victories in another trio of entertaining BTCC battles

Toyota Avensis driver Tom Ingram took his second Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship race win of the season at Donington Park to strengthen his points lead during another strong weekend for the rising stars in the series.

Power Maxed Vauxhall racer Josh Cook claimed his maiden BTCC win in the weekend’s opening race and was only narrowly beaten by Adam Morgan (Mercedes) in the final race of the day.

Ingram now leads the championship by seven points from Morgan, with Cook eight points further back.

These are the key takeaways from the second race weekend of the BTCC season.

Cook sizzles in opener

Cook bagged his first BTCC pole position in a wet qualifying session, but showed his pace was no fluke in the dry on Sunday. After briefly losing out to fellow front-row starter Chris Smiley (Honda Civic Type R) on the first lap, Cook reclaimed the lead and pulled clear of the chasing pack.

The win was Cook’s first after five seasons in the BTCC. “It’s a little bit easier starting from the front, that’s for sure,” he said.

Inside the 2018 Honda Civic Type R BTCC racer

The 26-year-old slipped to seventh running with full ballast in the second race, but confirmed a strong weekend with his charge to second in the final race.

Ingram first to double up

Having finished down the order in race one, Ingram started the second encounter in 13th on the grid – but ended it right at the front after a charging drive.

The Toyota man didn’t take long to work his way up to second, with a series of strong overtaking moves, and by lap 10 he was right on the tail of race leader Smiley. Ingram made his move at the final chicane on that lap, securing his eighth career win.

Ingram added eighth in the final race of the day to bolster his points lead.

Morgan leads Mercedes chargeAfter finishing well down the order in race one and charging to fifth in race two, Morgan capped his weekend in style, battling through the pack in a chaotic final race to claim his first win of the season.

Reigning champion Ash Sutton led early on in his Subaru Levorg but, after battling through the pack, Morgan chased him down and grabbed the lead. Once in front, he couldn’t relax due to pressure from Cook. 

It was a strong race for the Mercedes drivers, with Aiden Moffat fighting his way to third.

Smiley happy people

The three race winners weren’t the only drivers to put in strong performances at Donington.

BTC Norlin racer Smiley battled for the lead early in race one before fading to fifth and was right in the hunt in the second outing, only succumbing to Ingram late in the race.

“I knew we would be strong here, but I never expected to finish as high as second,” admitted the 26-year-old.

Having finished second in race one, works Honda driver Daniel Cammish showed his form in race two, leading the early part of the race before fading to fourth as he began to struggle with success ballast.

Sutton didn’t have such a strong weekend, as the BMR Subaru team continued to struggle. But he left Donington with eighth and sixth-place finishes in the final two races to at least grab some useful points.

Next event: Thruxton (Hampshire), 20 May

Read more

Brands Hatch round-up: Ingram leads ponts after season-opener

Inside the 2018 Honda Civic Type R BTCC racer

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