Ingram charges from 11th to win reverse grid race

Speedworks Motorsport's Tom Ingram has won the final British Touring Car Championship race of the weekend to emerge from a chaotic Brands Hatch meeting with the championship lead. 

The Toyota Avensis driver started the reverse grid race from eleventh but produced a magnificent charge up the order on the soft tyre to record his first win of the year.

As Ingram was scything his way through the field, it was the brand new Alfa Romeo Giulietta of Rob Austin which led much of the opening half of the race after starting from pole-position.

Although Austin looked relatively comfortable in the lead during the early stages, it soon became evident that the HMS driver's days were numbered as the Speedworks Avensis worked its way up the order.

By lap 11, Ingram eventually forced his way alongside Austin from the exit of Clark Curve, which gave the reigning Independents' champion the inside line and track position at Paddock Hill.

Ingram then subsequently romped away from the rest of the field as Austin dropped back to claim the final step on the podium in third, following a late charge from the Mercedes A-Class of Adam Morgan, who clinched second position for Ciceley Motorsport.

Reigning champion Ashley Sutton salvaged yet more vital points after ending the weekend with a fourth place finish. Despite starting the day in 19th position, the Subaru driver emerges from the season opener sitting fifth in the standings, just 14-points shy of championship leader Ingram. 

Team HARD's Mike Bushell marked his return to the BTCC by finishing fifth in the reverse grid encounter. Bushell had held third for much of the race but the Volkswagen CC driver found himself shuffled down to fifth during the latter stages.

AmD Tuning's Rory Butcher also threatened to demote Bushell down a position further to sixth. However, Bushell managed to retain his place within the top-five following a brief exchange with the MG runner.

Matt Simpson was seventh ahead of his Eurotech stablemate Jack Goff, while Team BMW's Colin Turkington produced a miraculous charge up the order to finish ninth after starting in 27th. 

Josh Cook completed the top-ten for Power Maxed TAG Racing.