TOM Ingram has defied expectation to set the third-fastest time during qualifying for tomorrow’s British Touring Car Championship second round.

The Speedworks Motorsport driver, with 66kg of success ballast on board the Northwich team’s Toyota Avensis, admitted he was surprised after the half-hour session at Donington Park on Saturday.

“I don’t think any of us expected to be that high up,” he said.

“To be sitting where we are, with that amount of weight in the car, is something we can be really happy with.

“We were hoping to be in the top 10, maybe, but not the top five.”

Ingram will start Sunday’s first race from the grid’s second row as a reward.

Another Toyota driver, Handy Motorsport’s Rob Austin, took pole position after post-qualifying scrutineering resulted in the exclusion of Ashley Sutton.

He looked to have set a lap record for Adrian Flux Subaru Racing, but his machine’s turbo over-boost was later adjudged to have contravened technical regulations.

Jack Goff (Eurotech Racing Honda Civic Type-R) and Aiden Moffat (Laser Tools Racing Mercedes A-Class) complete the top four.

Ingram, who topped the time-sheet at the Leicestershire circuit during a pre-season test, showed encouraging pace earlier in the day to rank fourth and third respectively in two free practice sessions.

In the second of those, the leading four drivers were separated by just 0.040s.

The story was similar in qualifying, when less than 1.2s covered the entire 32-car field.

Northwich Guardian:

Tom Ingram on track in Speedworks Motorsport's Toyota Avensis during qualifying for the British Touring Car Championship's second round at Donington Park on Saturday. Picture: Matt Sayle Photography

Ingram added: “We’ve a fighting chance to try and minimise the damage that will be done in race one in terms of places we know we’re going to lose.

“The car is quick, we know what, but it’s about trying to manage the impact the extra weight has.”

Full results from qualifying

A triple-header on Sunday starts at 1135.

A second sprint follows at 1435 before the afternoon concludes with another 16-lap shoot-out at 1720.

ITV Sport will broadcast the action live on terrestrial television.

Want to follow Speedworks’ progress tomorrow? Here’s what you need to know:

Timetable

Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship

Sunday, April 16

1140 Race one

1437 Race two

1722 Race three

Admission

Sunday, April 16

Adults £35

Accompanied under 13s Free

Television schedule

Sunday, April 16

ITV4 1045-1815