Tom Ingram has enjoyed an incredible opening BTCC weekend so far as the 2022 champion scored a double at Donington Park.

Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill surged into the lead on the run down to Redgate for first time, as the BMW got another fast start. Pole-sitter Ingram thought about defending but backed out slightly as the duo edged through the opening turns.

An uncharacteristic sluggish start for Team BMW’s Colin Turkington was further compounded by a late braking lock-up, which allowed the Toyota of Josh Cook to nip through into fourth on the first lap. 

Ingram would be embroiled in a tussle with NAPA Racing UK's Ash Sutton for second soon after, fending off his old adversary despite both cars going side-by-side.

Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS' Ronan Pearson – fresh from a brilliant top five finish in the opener – was soon spiralling down the order after the Hyundai ran onto the grass while tussling with Turkington.

It was all eyes on the leading trio in the latter stages of the race and another gaggle of three cars fighting for fourth, fifth and sixth.

The moment of truth came on lap 14 as Ingram scythed his Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS Hyundai down the inside of Hill’s #24 BMW and Sutton also eyed his opportunity by moving into second.

A stunned Hill fought back on the next lap, fighting through into second before again being relegated to third before the end of the start/finish straight.

The lead three places remained unchanged until the finish, as did the next three places with LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq's Josh Cook holding off the recovering Turkington and a charging Dan Cammish in his #27 NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus.

Adam Morgan (Team BMW), Aiden Moffat (LKQ Euro Car Parts with Synetiq's), Rob Huff (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK) and Dan Rowbottom (NAPA Racing UK) completed the top ten positions. Huff's afternoon took another boost post-race when his number was picked for the reverse grid draw – the series returnee will start the final bout at Donington on pole later today.

Tom Ingram said: "What an absolutely perfect weekend for Team BRISTOL STREET MOTORS, we couldn't have asked for anything more from qualifying, to race one, to race two, it's been fantastic. It's so hard to know when to keep your powder dry as to when to use your hybrid. We were discussing before the various race scenarios and options and permutations for when you would or wouldn't. Sometimes it's got to be a spur of the moment, and that felt like the opportune moment to use my only shot.

"I know where Ash (Sutton) is going to place his car as we've been racing each other for a number of years now. He can see what I'm about to do probably two laps before as I can probably predict what Ash is going to do. The Hybrid is obviously making a big difference with the battle with Jake (Hill) and the battle with Ash and I am sure with the battles further down the field as well."

Donington Park - Race 2 - Results: