One-time European Rally Champion Chris Ingram will switch his focus back to the ERC for the foreseeable future, after struggling to obtain sufficient budget to compete at the forefront of WRC2.
Ingram took part on the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally, where he finished sixth in WRC2, but he’s been absent from the World Rally Championship since, and until now had not confirmed which further rounds he’d be contesting.
But in a statement released on his Facebook page, Ingram has announced that he has made the decision to step back from the WRC, with a view to building back up to it later in the year.
“In Monte Carlo, it became evident that the older Škoda WRC2 car was no match for the latest version,” explained Ingram.
“Unfortunately, I couldn’t secure a deal with Toksport to compete in Portugal and Sardinia using the new car. They already have seven cars running, and the cost per event was simply not feasible for my current limited budget.
“I have taken a step back to focus on making solid foundations for my career by working on fundraising, promoting my driver training and launching the Rally Warrior Experience in the UK, France, and Belgium.
“The plan for the rest of the season is to build back up to WRC.”
Although Ingram is temporarily stepping away from the WRC, he still intends to compete in Europe during the summer, starting with Ypres Rally, potentially followed by some ERC rounds.
“If everything goes well, my plan is to then participate in the European Rally Championship in either Rally di Roma or the Czech Barum Rally before returning to the WRC towards the end of the season for the brand new Central Europe Rally.
“I feel these events will provide me with a platform to prepare for a full attack and full season in the World Rally Championship in 2024 with manufacturer support.”
