Upcoming British rally driver Chris Ingram will drive for the Opel factory team in the 2016 European Junior Rally Championship.
2015 saw Ingram make his European Rally Championship début with the Peugeot team and took victory at Rally Azores and also picked up the Colin McRae Flat Out Trophy at both the Azores and Rally of Ireland. The season would end with Ingram in fifth place in the Junior Championship and fourth place in the ERC3 category.
The Opel team took ERC3 championship victory in 2015 with Emil Bergvist and have signed up Ingram to defend the factory team honours.
“I am so excited about the season ahead,” said Ingram. “To have the opportunity to drive for the Opel Motorsport factory team – competing in their excellent Adam R2 car – gives me a real chance of competing for the Junior title, and I will be going flat out from the first rally of the season in Latvia.
“2016 is a massive year for me and I am determined to be successful and make a significant mark on the European Rallying scene.” he added.
Dan Chapman, senior partner of Full Contact, who look after the management of Ingram, commented “Once the 2015 season ended and we became aware of Opel’s interest in signing Chris, the plans for 2016 became very clear. There were various options, but the challenging of leading Opel Motorsport’s team as they look to defend their Junior title was too good to turn down.
“We are thrilled that Opel not only recognise Chris’ talent and ability but have chosen to back it, and for Chris to have another works drive at his tender age is extremely impressive. All eyes turn to Latvia now for February 5th where we hope Chris and Opel, and his new co-driver Katrin Becker, can have a solid start to the season.”
Ingram will be joined by Katrin Becker who takes on the co-driver duties for the 2016 season.
