Team Toyota GB with Ginsters' Tom Ingram took an emotional first win in the all-new Toyota Corolla with a lights-to-flag in the final BTCC race at Donington Park, as more than 4,500 Toyota members and family watched on.
The manufacturer-backed Speedworks Motorsport squad began the reversed grid encounter from pole position and last year's runner-up went untroubled throughout the 19 laps.
"It's an incredibly special moment," enthused Ingram. "What a weekend to do it on, in our now adopted home race. I can't tell you the pride we'll hold in this tonight. There's been so much hard work that's gone into this. Not only in terms of the car, but in pulling all this together.
"To be able to do it in front of Toyota, and 4,500 supporters from the factory, is just incredible. I was mindful of managing the gap and not to push too hard. I had a gap and I was happy for Rob (Collard) to push as I knew he'd be hurting his tyres.
"It's doubly special for me as I lost my grandma in the week. It's extra special for her. That's for nanny."
Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing's Rob Collard claimed second after a mid-race pass by the Trade Price Cars Audi of Jake Hill. Kent driver Hill was running the harder Dunlop Sport Maxx tyre compound and was struggling to hang on in the latter half of the race but still produced a stellar performance, particularly considering his race one disappointment earlier in the day.
"I'm so happy for that," said Collard. "I really had to battle for it at the start and I knew I had to get Josh (Cook) at the start. It was now-or-never. I can safely say I've adapted back to front-wheel drive. That's for all the people who said I was too old!"
Josh Cook in the BTC Racing Honda Civic Type R grabbed third with his own smart move by Hill. Rory Butcher's AmD-run Honda and the works' Subaru of Ash Sutton eventually finished fourth and fifth respectively, whilst Hill had to settle for a solid top six finish.
"It's been a tough day," claimed Cook. "It's great to get some decent points in that last race. Credit to Tom (Ingram) and the guys at Speedworks. It was a class drive and fair play to Rob (Collard) too. It was slightly demoralising seeing him pull away. There's more to come and happy at gaining some important points as we head to Thruxton."
Jason Plato rounded off a solid day with seventh in the Vauxhall with Ciceley Motorsport deserving huge congratulations for Adam Morgan's eighth place. Morgan's car looked extremely second hand after a big accident in the day's opening race, but his squad produced an amazing effort to ready his Mercedes in time for race two and the Lancastrian has been fighting back through the field ever since.
Double race winner Colin Turkington had to take ninth on this occasion in the ballast-laden BMW 3 Series, whilst Halfords Yuasa Racing's Dan Cammish completed the top ten results.
2019 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Round 6 – Donington Park
1 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Team Toyota GB with Ginsters 19 laps
2 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +1.092s
3 Josh COOK (GBR) BTC Racing +4.730s
4 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +10.087s
5 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +12.649s
6 Jake HILL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +13.367s
7 Jason PLATO (GBR) Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed Racing +13.933s
8 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Mac Tools with Ciceley Motorsport +14.328s
9 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +14.899s
10 Dan CAMMISH (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +15.314s
11 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Racing +17.413s
12 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +18.316s
13 Tom OLIPHANT (GBR) Team BMW +18.734s
14 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +20.872s
15 Sam TORDOFF (GBR) Cobra Sport AmD AutoAid/RCIB Insurance +21.637s
16 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Gallagher +23.366s
17 Daniel ROWBOTTOM (GBR) Cataclean Racing with Ciceley Motorsport +23.709s
18 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +23.985s
19 Rob SMITH (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +18.343s
20 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker Racing +28.921s
21 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +28.999s
22 Mark BLUNDELL (GBR) TradePriceCars.com +29.907s
23 Sam OSBORNE (GBR) Excelr8 Motorsport +30.446s
24 Nicolas HAMILTON (GBR) ROKiT Racing with Motorbase +6 laps
25 Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +7 laps
26 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +8 laps
27 Jack GOFF (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +18 laps
28 Carl BOARDLEY (GBR) RCIB Insurance with Fox Transport +19 laps
29 Michael CREES (GBR) GKR Scaffolding with Autobrite Direct +19 laps
