TOM Ingram adapted to changing weather conditions to emerge as the fastest driver at the end of the first of a two-day test at Snetterton.

He set an impressive pace behind the wheel of Speedworks’ Toyota Avensis, beating last year’s British Touring Car Championship lap record at the Norfolk circuit.

His best, a 1.55.932, in a dry morning session left him almost half a second clear of closest rivals Andrew Jordan (Pirtek Racing Ford Focus) and Dan Lloyd (Eurotech Racing Honda Civic Type-R).

Heavy rain during the lunchbreak prompted teams to bolt on Dunlop’s Blu Response wet tyres, but the result was the same.

Ingram, 22, again stole a march on the rest to the tune of three quarters of a second to top the time-sheets for a second time with 2.14.990.

“The car has felt really strong and we’ve just been playing around with different setups all day,” he told btcc.net.

“On the Friday or Saturday of a race meeting you don’t get a lot of time to tinker with the car and set-ups, the geometry and differentials.

“We had a couple of runs on new tyres to see what the car does, and obviously it was quick enough for a very good time.”

The High Wycombe-based ace, third in race three at Croft last time out, sits sixth in the overall drivers' standings at the season's halfway mark.

Meanwhile Northwich outfit are second in the independent teams' trophy.

Matt Simpson, in Speedworks’ Honda Civic Type-R, clocked a best of 1.59.538 in the morning.

The newcomer was 17th quickest in the afternoon, timing 2.18.909.

Meanwhile the test continues at Snetterton with two more sessions on Thursday, starting at 9am.