Ingram hails 'absolutely superb' BTCC campaign

Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram says he'll come back a stronger driver in 2019 after claiming the runner-up spot in this season's British Touring Car Championship.

The Toyota Avensis driver pushed eventual champion Colin Turkington virtually all the way in this season's title battle and ended the year just 12-points shy of the newly-crowned triple champion's points tally in second position.

Ingram once again outscored his main rival Turkington during the final weekend of the season and very nearly took the championship fight to a deciding final race after Turkington registered a 22nd place finish in race two following a trip through the gravel trap.

"It’s been an incredible weekend to look back on. It’s been an incredible year as well. Coming into it, we had our sights on trying to go for it for the overall," said Ingram.

"It was a little bit ‘tongue and cheek’ really. We never really thought it would be genuinely possible to fight against these guys and put it on weekend by weekend.

"We know we’ve got single weekend pace. We know we’ve got a fantastic race car. But to put a championship campaign together is bloody hard work.

"So to come out the back of it with Independent teams’, drivers’ and second overall is absolutely superb."

Despite winning more races than Turkington - 3 victories to 1 in the Toyota driver's favour - Ingram outlined consistency as one of the areas he and his Speedworks Motorsport outfit must improve on for next season.

"Credit to him [Turkington], he’s put a fantastic championship campaign together. Ultimately he’s been the best out of all of us.

"We’ve not been able to beat him. We’ve been able to match his pace and beat his pace. But we haven’t been able to match his consistency and that’s where we need to improve on next season.

"We’ve had one hell of a race all season. We can look back at it and think what could have been and what should have been. But you just can’t.

"It's cliché, but the knockbacks and setbacks are the things you learn from and makes you come back a stronger driver for next season."

Aside from taking second overall in the drivers' table, Ingram and Speedworks successfully defended their Independents driver and team crowns.

"The work that the boys have put in has been utterly incredible. Not just on the weekends but the work that goes on away from the track is second to none," he continued.

"As much as I come here with a very good car, you need a good bunch of lads around you to make it happen. Credit to those guys."