BTCC Thruxton: Tom Ingram tops frantic qualifying session

Ingram swapped fastest times with points leader Matt Neal for much of the session, with the factory Honda Civic Type R driver also having to contend with 75kg of success ballast.

Ingram's first run was ruined when two of his lap times were disallowed for track limits infringements, but he fought back on his second run to grab the advantage from Neal with nine minutes remaining.

"I didn't think it was on the cards," said Ingram, who has two poles to his name this year.

"I knew we had an advantage with no success ballast on the car, but we just hooked everything up.

"We worked on the car over the free practice sessions and it reaped the rewards."

Scottish teenager Aiden Moffat was also impressive as he managed to usurp Neal too in his Ciceley Racing Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

Behind Neal was the Triple Eight Racing MG pairing of Josh Cook and Ashley Sutton with Adam Morgan's Ciceley Racing Mercedes-Benz A-Class completing the top six.

Behind Jeff Smith's Eurotech Racing Honda Civic Type R in seventh was Andrew Jordan (Motorbase Ford Focus) and Aron Smith's BKR VW CC. WSR BMW 125i M Sport racer Sam Tordoff rounded out the top 10.

Reigning champion Gordon Shedden was 11th, while the leading factory Team BMR Subaru Levorg was Colin Turkington in 13th spot.

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