Ingram tightens grip on Sports Sedans title

Peter Ingram further cemented his strong position at the top of the Precision National Sports Sedans Series standings with an impressively consistent weekend at Sandown.

Although Steven Tamasi had the fastest car and won the first two races. Ingram stayed out of trouble and pounced when it mattered in Sunday’s finale.

With Tamasi slipping to sixth, Ingram’s final race win and pair of runner-up finishes were enough to snatch the round honours.

However, Ingram knows things went his way having struggled to nail corner exits, which are critical at Sandown.

“You take the wins when you get them,” Ingram told AUTO ACTION.

“Steve had been very fast all weekend so it was a shame that happened for him.

“Certainly we have to look after that championship but I am still pushing myself and want to win races as the fastest car.

“I was very happy with my qualifying result being my first time here, but just not that happy I did not progress throughout the weekend as I would have liked.

“I just struggled with this track a little bit. Exit is everything here and I was just not quite getting the right line.

“The car is fast so it will be all about working on my driving technique. This year the only track I had been to before was Eastern Creek, so four new tracks in my first proper season with this car has been a lot to take in.”

Steven Tamasi finds the grass at the start of a dramatic Sandown finale. Image: MPix

In race 3 from pole Tamasi struggled to put the foot down in the Holden Calibra as Steven Lacey got a flyer and rocketed through the front row to lead the field into Turn 1.

Ashley Jarvis’ Monaro also slotted behind the MARC car, whilst Ingram stayed on the outside.

However, Lacey locked up, sending the leading trio all wide to the run off.

Tamasi had slumped from first to fourth, but his attempt to capitalise on the the leaders’ mistakes was ruined as he got out of shape on corner exit.

As Tamasi made the direction change, he cut across the front of Mark Duggan’s Aston Martin, firing the Holden into the grass. The Calibra got airborne and suffered significant front splitter damage, dropping to the back of the pack.

“Steve Lacey and Ash Jarvis both ran deep into one to out brake each other with front tyres smoking,” Ingram recalled of the incident.

“I was right in between them and somehow avoided them and the rest of the pack. That was a case of luck really because there was not much more I could do.”

As a result of all the drama, Jarvis charged into the lead.

However, the Monaro only led until the start of Lap 5 where Lacey dived down the inside at the opening corner.

Just seconds before the race-ending Safety Car was called, Ingram snatched the led from Lacey down the back straight.

The incident was caused by Ray Hislop, who found the fence on the exit of turn 3.

With the right wheel out of place and the FG Falcon standard, the race ended under Safety Car, confirming Ingram’s victory.

Tamasi put in a mighty drive from 11th to sixth saw him claw back important points, but it was not enough to stop Ingram from taking the round victory.

As a result he has extended his championship lead to 103 points over Tamasi with just one round to go at the famous Mount Panorama.

But he knows it is far from a done deal.

“Anything can happen,” he said.

“Steve is very fast and it will not take much. A DNF hurts so you cannot count anything until the last race. I don’t want to know the maths.

“I still want to prove things and want to win the championship because I am fast and not just consistent.”

The final round of the 2024 Precision National Sports Sedans Series is at Bathurst on November 8-10.

Image: Rebecca Hind/Revved Photography

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