Expect the trio to once again fight it out for the crown. Who will prevail remains anyone’s guess at this stage, which is precisely why we love the BTCC.
“Maybe I’m biased, perhaps everyone sees their own era as the toughest, but it certainly feels incredibly tough right now,” says Ingram.
“Take Silverstone qualifying, when there was a tenth of a second covering a multiple of cars… It’s not just the drivers, it’s the engineers, the tyre strategy, the little bit of luck that comes in as well.
“That’s why we enjoy it so much. As a sportsman and athlete, you always want to compare yourself to the best and fight to constantly improve. Racing in the BTCC is an incredible privilege.”
The main development over the winter was the decision for the BTCC to drop its groundbreaking Cosworth-developed spec hybrid system.
Fair to say, it won’t be missed as the BTCC instead adopts 100% sustainable fuel – a sign of where the wind is currently blowing in motor racing. The new formulation, Hiperflo ECO102 R100, is derived from synthetic and biological non-crude sources, hence its marketable 100% fossil-free status.
The cars are 55kg lighter as a result of ditching the hybrid system, which has pleased the drivers.
“The last time we drove these cars at this weight was in 2021, so it has been a while – and it feels great,” says Ingram, who began testing in the new spec at Anglesey Circuit a little more than a week after the Brands finale last autumn. “That gave us a bit of a head start. We probably had the fastest car in 2024 and we’ve only improved it.”
A power boost to balance performance and aid overtaking remains in place through variation of turbocharger boost pressures.
