Tom Ingram has been crowned Kwik Fit British Touring Car Champion for the first time in his career after producing a masterclass in a thrilling season finale at Brands Hatch (8/9 October).
The 29-year-old has been in title contention for six successive seasons, but finally secured the most coveted prize in British motorsport with two victories and a top-five finish during the three bouts around the legendary Grand Prix circuit in Kent.
With a quartet of contenders vying for the title heading into the weekend, it was reigning champion Ash Sutton leading the way from Jake Hill, Ingram and four-time champ Colin Turkington.
Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com’s Ingram laid down an early marker when he obliterated the lap record during qualifying on Saturday, and he duly converted pole position into a commanding double in the first two contests on race day.
Turkington dropped out of mathematical contention after the second encounter, as Ingram carried an 11-point advantage over Hill into the finale, with Sutton a further three points in arrears.
Ingram’s team-mate Daniel Lloyd won the final race, from Rich Energy BTC Racing’s Josh Cook and Toyota GAZOO Racing UK’s Rory Butcher, but it was all eyes on the battle behind as Sutton, Hill and Ingram ran nose-to-tail in the closing laps of an enthralling season.
The deciding moment of truth came on the last lap as Hill made one last lunge on Sutton through Paddock Hill Bend. Ingram simultaneously nudged his Hyundai down the inside of Hill, as slight contact forced the latter out wide and out of contention.
Ingram shadowed Sutton to the finish line as tens of thousands of fans roared home a new BTCC Champion. Elation quickly turned to an outpouring of emotion for Ingram with tears of joy flowing during his live interview on ITV4.
Wild celebrations followed as Ingram emerged triumphant from his car before he went on to lift the famous BTCC trophy.
Ingram scored a total of six race victories during the first year of the hybrid era – more than any other driver – to underline his deserved success.
Sutton had to settle for runners-up laurels ahead of Hill and Turkington, whilst Butcher was rewarded with fifth in the overall standings after an impressive double podium on finals day.
BMW won the Manufacturers’/Constructors’ title for the seventh consecutive campaign, whilst NAPA Racing UK won the Teams’ trophy in its first season of competition.
Josh Cook and Rich Energy BTC Racing scooped both Independents’ honours, whilst Bobby Thompson clinched the Jack Sears Trophy in style at his home circuit.
BTCC legend Jason Plato brought his touring car career to a close, taking two overall Drivers' titles and 97 race victories having first joined Britain's premier motorsport series back in 1997.
The British Touring Car Championship will return in 2023 with the opening rounds taking place in April at Donington Park.
Tom Ingram, 2022 BTCC Champion, said: “I’ve thought about this moment for literally my entire life. This is what I wanted to do. This is what I wanted to win. Never did I think it was going to come. We’ve had a few years of coming into this weekend and it not quite working out; I cannot put into words how much of a fantastic team I have around me to have made this happen. It’s just incredible. From Chris and Leslie to everyone associated with Bristol Street Motors, Anthony, Justina, my amazing girlfriend Laura, my parents. To every single person that’s helped me along the way. I cannot put into words just how much it means.
“I felt like I needed an adult with me [during the race]. Somebody to come in the passenger seat and say ‘it’s okay, just chill! It will all be fine.’ I was talking to Spencer (race engineer), he was constant. All the way through on the radio, every lap, more information. Knowing what was going on, knowing the gap, knowing who was around me.
“I’m not going to do anything else [but race], why would I do anything else? It’s a racing car, it’s in the best championship in the entire world. Why would I sit there, you’ve got to go for it!
“When we’ve devoted our life to it, as we have done, and you have all the sacrifices, everything from meeting Matt Neal when I was five years old at the Autosport Show, falling in love with the British Touring Car Championship and over the years, coming through all the support series, all the Ginettas, getting into touring cars with Speedworks [Motorsport], it’s been absolutely amazing. I owe absolutely everything to my amazing team who have put everything behind me because they’ve just worked tirelessly this year. It’s just been incredible. This isn’t going to sink in, I’m going to have sore cheeks for at least a week.”
2022 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 1 – Brands Hatch GP
1. Tom INGRAM (GBR) Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com 18 laps
2. Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Toyota GAZOO Racing UK +0.581s
3. Jake HILL (GBR) ROKiT MB Motorsport +8.644s
4. Ash SUTTON (GBR) NAPA Racing UK +10.408s
5. Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +10.524s
6. Adam MORGAN (GBR) Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport +10.779s
7. Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) Autobrite Direct with JourneyHero +11.190s
8. George GAMBLE (GBR) Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport +11.504s
9. Dan CAMMISH (GBR) NAPA Racing UK +12.259s
10. Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team BMW +12.728s
2022 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 2 – Brands Hatch GP
1. Tom INGRAM (GBR) Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com 15 laps
2. Jake HILL (GBR) ROKiT MB Motorsport +0.673s
3. Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.981s
4. Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Toyota GAZOO Racing UK +4.693s
5. Ash SUTTON (GBR) NAPA Racing UK +6.758s
6. Adam MORGAN (GBR) Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport +6.908s
7. Josh COOK (GBR) Rich Energy BTC Racing +9.854s
8. Dan CAMMISH (GBR) NAPA Racing UK +10.177s
9. Bobby THOMPSON (GBR) Autobrite Direct with JourneyHero +11.301s
10. Daniel LLOYD (GBR) Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com +11.786s
2022 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Race 3 – Brands Hatch GP
1. Daniel LLOYD (GBR) Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com 17 laps
2. Josh COOK (GBR) Rich Energy BTC Racing +0.724s
3. Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Toyota GAZOO Racing UK +4.409s
4. Ash SUTTON (GBR) NAPA Racing UK +8.555s
5. Tom INGRAM (GBR) Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com +9.479s
6. George GAMBLE (GBR) Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport +9.831s
7. Jake HILL (GBR) ROKiT MB Motorsport +10.327s
8. Dan CAMMISH (GBR) NAPA Racing UK +11.472s
9. Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team BMW +17.304s
10. Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +21.511s
Penalties
Race 1
Josh Cook received a verbal warning for an incident involving Dexter Patterson
Race 2
Ollie Jackson received a verbal warning for an incident involving Jade Edwards
Race 3
Jade Edwards received an official reprimand and had her licence endorsed by the addition of two penalty points for an incident involving Michael Crees
Ricky Collard received an official reprimand and had his licence endorsed by the addition of two penalty points for an incident involving Dan Rowbottom
General
Toyota GAZOO Racing UK has had 70 points deducted from its Manufacturers’/Constructors’ and Teams’ Championship scores having changed an engine above the number permitted
Laser Tools Racing has had 10 points deducted from its Teams’ and Independent Teams’ Championship scores having changed an engine above the number permitted
Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com has had 30 points deducted from its Manufacturers’/Constructors’ and Teams’ Championship scores having changed an engine above the number permitted
CarStore Power Maxed Racing has had 30 points deducted from its Teams’ and Independent Teams’ Championship scores having changed an engine above the number permitted
Halfords Racing with Cataclean has had 10 points deducted from its Manufacturers’/Constructors’ and Teams’ Championship scores having changed an engine above the number permitted
