INGRAM HAS WRC2 PODIUM AIM
Britain’s Chris Ingram will make his WRC2 debut driving a Toksport-run Skoda Fabia R5 at next month’s Rally Turkey.
The 24-year-old Manchester driver will put his European Rally Championship campaign to one side when he steps up world-level competition for the WRC’S first visit to the Marmaris-based event.
Turkey will be his fifth start in a four-wheel-drive car and only his seventh ever World Rally Championship outing.
Having waited all his career to go toe-to-toe with the best drivers in the WRC’S feeder series, Ingram dives into the middle of a fascinating title tussle between Skoda factory drivers Jan Kopecky and reigning series champion Pontus Tidemand.
“It’s going to be fantastic to be there,” Ingram told Motorsport
News shortly after keeping his ERC Junior U28 title bid on track with third place on last weekend’s Rally Zlin.
“Zlin was a tough weekend. We went to the rally with a set-up far more suited to dry conditions and it took us a while to get the car right on the really wet roads. But we got through and I took more experience in a four-wheeldrive car. But now I can’t wait for Turkey.
“I have been waiting so long for an opportunity like this one and I’m glad it’s come on an event like Turkey. So many of those [WRC2] guys know rallies like Germany or Spain, but Turkey is a real level playing field.
“Nobody’s been there and nobody knows what’s coming. It’s going to be amazing.”
Ingram is working with Tok sport in Germany this week before he heads to Turkey to test next weekend.
Ingram is determined not to let his lack of experience of the car or the surroundings get in the way of a strong WRC2 debut.
“My first time in this car was at the Azores at the start of the season,” he said. “That’s the only time I’ve driven [in fourwheel-drive competition] on gravel. I can’t change that, so I’m not going to think about it. I’ll go, do my test, work hard with the team, stick to our plan and set my sights on a podium finish.”