Michael Gooderham
Updated on: October 13, 2024 5:35 am GMT
Tom Ingram has emerged as a surprising pole position holder for the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) race at Silverstone. This comes after a significant shake-up during the qualifying session when Aron Taylor-Smith, who initially topped the timesheets, along with his Power Maxed Racing teammates Mikey Doble and Dan Zelos, were disqualified due to ride-height infractions.
Qualifying Upset
The qualifying session, which was influenced by rain, saw Taylor-Smith delivering a remarkable performance. His time of 1:02.288 seemed to secure him a place at the front for the first race. However, after the session, his Vauxhall Astra and Doble’s vehicle failed the post-session ride-height checks. This saw both drivers, as well as Zelos, relegated to the back of the grid for race one.
- Disqualified Drivers:
– Aron Taylor-Smith: Initially fastest lap
– Mikey Doble: Finished third in qualifying
– Dan Zelos: Career-best sixth place
Despite efforts from Power Maxed Racing to contest the exclusion by lodging an appeal, the timeline for formally challenging the decision was not met, rendering their appeal invalid. The three drivers will now start from:
- Taylor-Smith: 18th
- Doble: 19th
- Zelos: 20th
Ingram Takes Advantage
With Taylor-Smith’s disqualification, Tom Ingram of EXCELR8 Motorsport has inherited the pole position. Ingram’s Hyundai i30 N, although disadvantaged due to turbo and hybrid power limits, adapted well to the challenging wet conditions that fell during qualifying. He was able to secure his spot on the front row after starting the session under the constraints of additional penalties due to his standing in the points.
- Top Qualifiers:
– 1st: Tom Ingram (EXCELR8 Motorsport)
– 2nd: Colin Turkington (Team BMW)
– 3rd: Josh Cook (Speedworks Motorsport)
Reflecting on his rise to pole, Ingram expressed, “I was confident of a top-eight finish in dry conditions, but the rain really changed the dynamics of the session in my favor.”
Revised Grid Overview
Due to the exclusions and an additional grid penalty for Andrew Watson from Toyota, the revised starting positions for the race will look different than initially anticipated.
- Tom Ingram – Pole Position
- Colin Turkington – Second
- Josh Cook – Third
- Dan Cammish – Fourth
- Jake Hill – Fifth
As a result of regulatory adjustments, championship leader Jake Hill moved up to fifth place, while Watson, originally at eighth due to his penalty, will now line up further back.
What’s Next?
The BTCC race weekend continues with heightened anticipation as fans look forward to the first race. Ingram’s positioning offers him a crucial chance to extend his championship lead, while Taylor-Smith, Doble, and Zelos will have to fight hard from the back of the grid if they wish to salvage points during the race.
Ingram’s confidence and recent momentum may position him well to fend off challengers like Turkington and Cook, both experienced drivers seeking to capitalize on the situation spawned by the disqualifications.
The remainder of the Silverstone weekend promises excitement as teams and drivers prepare for the races, putting strategy and skill to the test against the backdrop of one of the sport’s most prestigious venues.
Conclusion
Ingram is now in a great spot after the disqualifications, and this will change how things go for the next races at Silverstone. Everyone, from fans to drivers, is getting ready for an exciting event with many surprises ahead. How Ingram takes advantage of this chance could be really important for his race to win the championship as the BTCC season goes on.
