Ingram hails 'mega day' after first BTCC pole of 2020
Toyota Gazoo Racing UK's Tom Ingram says he goes into the final British Touring Car Championship race day of the season free of pressure after securing his first pole position of the year at Brands Hatch.
For the second time this season, Ingram set the fastest time in qualifying, but has this time kept pole position after previously seeing the position taken away from earlier in the year at Croft.
The Toyota Corolla driver left it late to snatch pole from Motorbase Performance's Rory Butcher and moves a point closer towards the championship lead as a result.
Ingram has outside chance of claiming a maiden BTCC drivers' title during Sunday's season finale, but would need to overhaul a 33-point gap, which separates himself and championship leader Colin Turkington.
"Mega day. It’s obviously good to get our second pole of the year. First one got taken away from us because of the wishbone failure. The last two wet qualifying sessions, we’ve put it on pole. It’s nice to get the last pole of the year," Ingram told Crash.net.
"In real terms, I feel really chilled and relaxed about this weekend because there’s nothing I can do [about the championship]. I’ve got to go out there and do my own thing and hope that other people have some misfortune.
"I’m just going to put my head and go out and enjoy it."
During a session that was littered with incidents and a change in track conditions from practice, Ingram admitted it was hard to find a rhythm early on in the 30-minute shootout.
"It took a long time to get into a rhythm. That wasn’t only myself. That was a lot of other drivers as well. We were all struggling. The circuit changed a lot from free practice," the Toyota driver continued.
"It kind of meant we were starting from scratch. We were on the catch up all the way through. Great to get it. I’m obviously in the best place for tomorrow."
With five drivers still in mathematical contention to claim this season's title, Ingram predicts final race day of 2020 will take an unpredictable course.
"It’s going to be unpredictable. The weather is going to be all over the place. Whatever goes on, it’s going to be a good days racing," said Ingram.
"I’m in quite a nice place. I know Ash [Sutton] isn’t going to do anything too daft because he needs the points after what he did at Croft.
"I’m not worried or stressed. I feel very good. I’ll go to sleep tonight and sleep very well and wake up and see what it looks like in the morning.
"From my side, head down and just do the best job we can. If it’s enough, we shall see. It will be what it will be."
