Covid’s put brakes on my rally career
DRIVER CHRIS IN FUNDRAISING MISSION TO GET BACK BEHIND WHEEL
“I’M going to be competing with guys who fly around in private jets and have all got Bugattis and live in Monaco, and I am going to be living on my parents’ sofa.”
It will come as no surprise to anyone that motorsport is an unfair game, where money often rises above talent.
No-one knows that more than Manchester-born Chris Ingram who, despite having won the 2019 European Rally Championship (ERC) against all the odds, spent 2020 having to sleep on his parents’ settee.
After a major sponsor pulled out halfway through that season, a crowdfunding effort was required to get the 26-yearold through to the final round in Hungary, and he repaid those who donated by clinching the title, becoming the first British champion of the ERC in more than 50 years.
But despite his remarkable achievement a lack of experience at World Rally Championship (WRC) level, as well as the pandemic, meant the Brit’s phone remained silent as major manufacturers opted against signing him.
“It was horrible, Covid stopped all my momentum winning the European Championship” he told M.E.N. Sport.
“I haven’t been able to do any driving since I won the championship. But it has given me an opportunity to refresh and reload”.
Unlike most at the top level, Ingram has had to battle to obtain the funding required to just have a seat at the table, but an innovative approach has put his dream of competing on the world stage within touching distance.
He explained: “I’ve created a company called Rally Warrior. I’m selling shares in myself effectively and my future earnings.
“I’m very close to the first year, I probably need to raise £100,000 more, I’ve raised £300,000 in the last couple of weeks.”
Those finances mean a deal is now in place for Ingram to privately race a Skoda Fabia in the WRC3 support competition this year, and potentially create the springboard for himself to reach the very pinnacle.
“The aim is to win WRC2 (the next step up from the WRC3) over the next couple of years.
“I believe if I win that, I can’t be ignored any more by manufacturer teams. They are paying their drivers millions, so that is how investors will get their return.
“The funding is the only thing that is stopping me from becoming world champion.”
Ingram’s self-belief is remarkable, and that certainty in his ability rubs off on those providing his financial support.
Manchester-based Car Finance 247 has been a long-term supporter for Ingram and will continue to help fund his efforts in the WRC.
Louis Rix, the CEO of the car finance company, said: “In the three years that we have been supporting Chris, it’s been great to see his natural talent, determination and passion take him to the top.
“As we’ve grown over the years, Chris’ career has also gone from strength to strength, and it has been especially impressive to see how he approaches adversity and never lets setbacks stand in his way.”
Although his ultimate goal is finally within reach, the journey to this stage has been tough, with enough hardship to make anyone feel as though that walking away from the sport would have been the best thing.
But when asked if giving up was ever an option, Ingram instantly replied: “Never, absolutely never.
“Giving up would have been like giving up on myself because my whole life has been wanting to get to the WRC.
“I’ve got that vision of where I want to be and that is probably the biggest thing that gets me through.”