TOM Ingram moved top of the drivers’ standings in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) with a race win at Croft.
The Coventry driver won the first race of the weekend and also secured a podium finish in race three in North Yorkshire.
Ingram now leads title rival Ash Sutton by eight points at the top of the drivers’ standings as the BTCC returned following a mid-season break.
Ingram said: “Great result. Team VERTU did a brilliant job. The summer break was really positive for us.
“We made a lot of little tweaks to continue refining and optimising every aspect of the Hyundai.
“The car felt just superb, as it does every weekend thanks to the fantastic job done by Team VERTU.
“Every circuit we turn up to, it seems to be in a really good place.”
Team Vertu driver Ingram made the perfect start to the weekend as Ingram led from start to finish to take the overall lead in the drivers’ standings.
However, Ingram could not repeat his success in race two as the Championship leader finished down in eighth.
He returned to the podium in the third and final race of the weekend as Ingram and title rival Sutton engaged in an epic tussle for the race win.
Ingram made contact with pole-sitter Aiden Moffat on the first lap and overtook Sutton later in the race following a safety car.
However, a sublime move from Sutton saw him move from third to first at the final hairpin despite his car taking damage in the process.
That forced Ingram to settle for second place although he remains top of the drivers’ standings on 273 points with Sutton on 265 points.
The BTCC season continues at Knockhill on the weekend of August 16 and 17.
