BTCC 2018: Ingram charges to early points lead

Senna the rainmaster

Proctor’s shock first BTCC win was all due to a gamble: he spotted that the track was slightly driving on the green flag lap, and opted to roll the dice and pit for slick tyres.

“I told my engineer and he said ‘let’s put slicks on’. I said: ‘We’re not going to win the race on wets but we just might on slicks, so let’s give it a go’ – and look what we’ve done.”

BTCC EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Round 2 of the 2018 #BTCC was one to watch. Here's how the thrilling race unfolded in 60 seconds. Follow the rest of the action now, live on ITV4 pic.twitter.com/EFd7RQUp8J

— BTCC (@DunlopBTCC) April 8, 2018

Ingram’s early excellence

Ingram, who now has a three point lead over Goff in the title race, clearly knows how to start a season strongly: his race three win made it three years in a row that he has taken a victory in the Brands Hatch opener.

“It was a great end to the weekend,” said Ingram. “There was a lot of pressure on us, with people expecting us to qualify on pole and win the first race, but we had a bit of an uphill battle.”

BTCC EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Here is Round 3 of the #BTCC in 60 seconds. Tom Ingram taking the win to finish a spectacular opening weekend at Brands Hatch. pic.twitter.com/0aY0S18Uzv

— BTCC (@DunlopBTCC) April 8, 2018

Dynamics difficulties

The Team Dynamics Honda squad had a tough event running the new Civic Type R for the first time. New signing Dan Cammish set the fastest time in qualifying – but was stripped of his time after driving past a red light in the pit lane, lining up fourth.

Cammish started strongly in race one before fading to eighth and was 16th in race two on the wrong tyres. He was 11th in race three. Still, he fared better than team-mate Matt Neal, who crashed out of the first race and struggled from then on.

BTCC 2018: Inside the new Honda Civic Type R racing car

Subaru’s struggles

Reigning champion Ash Sutton and Team BMR Subaru Levorg team-mate Jason Plato had struggled for pace in testing – and that continued at Brands Hatch. 

Sutton could only muster 18th on the grid, and did well to race up to seventh in race one. He was more competitive early in race two before dropping down the order on wet tyres, but he banked good points with fourth in race three.