INGRAM AIMS FOR TOP EURO HONOURS
Chris Ingram is ready to end Britain’s European Rally Championship drought in 2018 – with the Manchester star in the running for a front-line R5 drive in the series.
The 23-year-old won last season’s ERC Junior U27 title and pocketed €100,000 (£87,000) towards a shot at becoming the first Briton to lift the main European title since Vic Elford in 1967. Ingram has spent the winter chasing additional sponsorship in an effort to build his prize into a fighting fund for 2018. The ERC starts with Rally Azores on March 22-24.
“It goes without saying that we could always use more backing,” Ingram told MN, “but things are looking really good for this season. I’ve still got a couple of options out there in terms of what car we’re going to be using in the ERC, but the chance to finally be starting a full year in an R5 is so exciting – it’s what I’ve been waiting for for a very long time.”
Ingram has spent his entire career in frontwheel-drive cars – running with the Opel Rallye Junior Team in ERC for the last two years with Peugeot UK backing for the two before that.
“I definitely think I’ve got the hang of R2 now!” said Ingram. “The important thing for me is to get some seat time [in the R5 car] before the first ERC round of the season in the Azores. While I haven’t got much experience of four-wheel drive, the advantage I do have in the ERC is that I know the rallies quite well.
“Starting the season in the Azores is great for me, I’ve done the event for the last four years and won my class twice and finished second there twice. It’s a rally I really enjoy and really sensible one for me to start the step up to R5.”
Despite his lack of R5 experience, Ingram is ready to make his mark on the ERC and sets his sights on ending Polish driver Kajetan Kajetanowicz’s three-year run of victories.
“I’ve got to be looking at a challenge for the title,” said Ingram. “It’s the next step in my career and it would be a good launchpad into the World Rally Championship. Like I said, I know the rallies, the backing and the car are coming, so things are looking really exciting. It’s been a while since a Brit won the ERC, so to do that would be pretty amazing for me.” ● Former Portuguese WRC driver Armindo Araujo has confirmed he will start the Azores Rally in a Hyundai i20 R5.