GOING DEEPER: with Chris Ingram

GOING DEEPER: with Chris Ingram

GOING DEEPER: with CHRIS INGRAM

GOING DEEPER presents Manchester-based, European Champion rally driver, Chris Ingram.

@chrisingramrally

Chris Ingram has the world at his feet. After gaining his love for rally driving from a child, his obsession with the sport has continued to grow. The trials and tribulations of his relationship with racing haven't been a smooth drive, however. 

Funding continues to be a problem for all up-and-coming drivers across the globe as corporate politics still dominate under money-hungry motives. This hasn't stopped Chris from achieving greatness, though. His recent success has seen him take British rally driving to a new space; becoming the first British European champion in 52 years, in 2019. We wanted to know what it takes to achieve ultimate greatness, to be one of the best in the world at something.  

BODA SKINS caught up with Chris over Zoom to hear his story and inspirations.

BODA SKINS: Chris, the last year has been a difficult time for everyone. But for you personally, how have you been? 

CHRIS: So difficult, for me personally, just before COVID, I won the European Rally Championship. So I felt like my life and career was about to take off after so many years of fighting and struggling. Then COVID hit and it killed all of my momentum. 

It was hard not to be a bit lost in that situation, so yeah, I think it hit me pretty hard to be honest.  Aside from not being able to compete, my day to day life hasn’t changed that much. Usually at the weekend I am training, rather than drinking with my mates! My racing simulator at home has been my saviour during lockdown. 

I started an online rally championship, and almost 10,000 people entered it. It was amazing, I was in the top 10 -  I was buzzing about that. This young lad won, who’s from the Czech Republic, he must’ve been about 17, and if I had the money, I would give this kid a chance because the driving on the game was just unbelievable.


Your story as a driver is so inspiring. Rally driving is a niche sport here in the UK, so this has got us interested into how you found your love for the sport. Where did it all start for you? 

My dad used to compete back in the 80’s in the iconic days of the sport. It was so popular, you used to get thousands of people going watching these rallies in the countryside in the middle of the night around the UK, it was a proper iconic thing. So, my dad got me into the sport and when I was about 10 he took me to watch a rally in the welsh forests. 

From then on I just fell in love with the sport. I’m not sure if you’ve ever been to a rally before, but standing in the middle of a forest and hearing the most incredible car and the engine coming towards you and spraying you with mud, the smell of the fuel and the brakes - there’s something unbelievable about it. The sounds of the cars and the echoes through the forest… I sound like a right saddo! [laughs] I’ve always been fascinated with cars, I used to raz them around on the carpets as a kid, Scalextrics as well. 

I always used to pretend that one car was me and that I was going to win, and that’s what I’m doing now. It’s pretty mad! But when I was 15/16, my dad gave me the chance to start driving. We bought this written-off Citroen C1 from a little old lady, and I drove it around fields and learnt how to drive, then we started racing in the junior rally championships. I've taken it step-by-step since then.

"“Some day I want to help young drivers who are in a similar position to me. I had my team and family, but within the sport, it’s brutal.”"

As a young boy growing up and admiring the sport, you have literally gone from being a spectator to one of the best in the world. Talk us through your European Championship victory - it must have felt like a dream, right?

It’s been an amazing journey already but this is still only the beginning. I first competed in the European Championship in a tiny Renault Twingo. My dad and some mates helped me prepare and fix it in between races, whilst we were competing against some really professional teams. I was leading my class at the Irish Rally and everyone was blown away by this tiny car going so fast. My confidence was building and building and I felt like I was flying this car rather than driving. On the 13th stage I barrel-rolled and ripped all 4 wheels and the engine out of the car completely destroying it. Weirdly my dad actually was watching on the same corner and was the first spectator to help me climb out of the up-side-down car. 

I was plea-ing for the fans to help us flip the car over so we could continue in the rally, until I turned around to see the car was just in bits all over the road.  My co-driver and I were quite lucky not to come out of it injured. After that, I thought that was the end of my rally driving! I’d destroyed my car, we had no sponsorship, I thought my dream was over. A few months later I received a call from a manufacturer team, and secured three seasons fully funded by Peugeot UK, Opel and Vauxhall, and I went on to become European Junior Champion. 

This meant I could move up to four-wheel drive rally cars worth way over £200,000. My first year with four-wheel drive was really successful, but at the end of the year, our title sponsor pulled out, so I was in the same position again - I had no way to continue! Thankfully with the support of another sponsor Car Finance 247 and a private race-team called Toksport, we were able to keep going into the next season. We ended up finding ourselves in the position that we were leading the European Championship with two rounds to go, and should I win, I would become the first Brit in 52 to win the European Rally Championship. I had no money left at all and couldn’t even put fuel in my car. 

My mum set up a crowdfunding page - which raised around £30,000 to get to these last two rallies and I’ll be forever grateful to the 350 people who chipped in and had their name on my car for the last round of the championship. I had a healthy championship lead going into the final round, so all I had to do was finish on the podium for the last race. I was comfortably sitting in second or third position throughout the first few days of the rally, until on the very last stage - bearing in mind there’s 124 stages in the whole championship - I got a puncture and I dropped from third to fourth.  

Dramatically my rival for the championship, actually got a puncture as well, which meant we were stood in the middle of nowhere in a forest in Hungary in the middle of a thunderstorm, and nobody knew who had won the championship for what felt like forever. This championship is ran by the FIA, the same organisation which run Formula 1 and even they didn’t know. There were so many points that had to be calculated. Finally, we got the word through that we’d won and it was the most insane moment. Everyone was crying! I was beside myself because it was something I had worked toward for my whole life, even the TV presenter was crying. As a sporting moment, it was incredible!

So, following your successes on the European stage, what comes next?

The next step is the World Rally Championship, but because of COVID, I wasn’t able to secure a drive last year. My rivals were still able to compete, so it’s been frustrating to be on the sidelines. The driver I’d beaten in the European Championship in 2019 won the 2020 championship and I wasn’t there to defend my title. 
In the space of the last couple of weeks, I’ve raised significant funding to be able to compete in the World Rally Championship this year. There are so many opportunities coming up, it’s unreal and I’m so grateful. 

How did your family help with raising funds during the earlier stages of your career?


My dad was an award-winning house builder. Sadly during the recession in 2008 as a family we hit very hard times and had to start again. We struggled after that, but I’ve never let anything get in the way of keeping my dream alive...

Do you see racing as your way of helping your family live a different standard of life after the struggles?

For me, driving is what I love to do, but at the same time, the top rally drivers are on footballers wages. They’re flying around in private jets, living in Monaco earning millions. I believe I have the ability to get to the top of the sport. Personally, I don’t care about being wealthy at all. It would just be nice to one day give back to the sport and the people who have helped me.

Why do you think that Rally Driving is so difficult to dominate when you have raw talent like yourself?

Simply because funding is a huge factor in Motorsport. There are people who are competing, whose dads are multi millionaires and it’s simply a hobby to them. I believe that it should be more of a pure sport, and the FIA (Governing body of Motorsport) should bring the costs down, and only the best drivers should be able to drive at the top levels. You can't pay to play for Manchester City or United, so why should motorsport be so different at the top levels? 

You say growing the sport is something you are extremely passionate about. How important are cross-collaborations for you?

Cross-collaborations are so important for me. Rallying isn’t a big sport here in the UK, it’s massive in Portugal and Spain and Eastern Europe. But, it’s so important for me to try and grow my profile and grow the sport in the UK as Colin McRae did. Since Colin McRae and Richard Burns, there’s not been a British driver who has brought any major publicity to the sport.  

My dream is to become World Champion and by winning it, the sport would get so much more coverage and grow in the UK.  I am carving my own path which is easier said than done.  Hopefully, more publicity like this can make me stand out… Maybe I should go on Love Island or something! [laughs] That’s the easiest way to get a big profile, isn’t it?

"I’ve always been fascinated with cars, I used to raz them around on the carpets as a kid, scale electrics as well. I always used to pretend that one car was me."

What is next on the agenda for you, how do you intend to grow as both an athlete and as a person?

I want to help make rally cool again, it’s way more exciting than Formula 1. Motorsport is quite corporate, I need to keep doing things differently. My dream is not just for me to get to the top, but to grow the overall profile of it, because I’m so passionate about it.   

Through my experiences, one day I’d like to help talent, both drivers and even athletes in other sports, too. There are not enough people that give back in sport. I have so much respect for the people that do give back, but there aren’t many in Motorsport.  I’ve formed a company called Rally Warrior. 

We are raising investment to get to the World Championship. Hopefully, if I get there, I want to help other talented drivers that haven’t had an equal chance. It’s quite funny, because, haven’t you got a jacket called the Warrior?


Who is your biggest inspiration, Chris?

Definitely, my dad. He’s the reason I’ve got my passion for the sport and the drive and ability when I’ve not had the resources. In terms of inspiration from sport, anyone who’s achieving their dreams. Cristiano Ronaldo stands out and in rally Sebastien Ogier the 7x World Champion. Phil Foden is probably the next one, isn’t he? A local lad who’s living the dream.




What would you say to your younger-self, and to any inspiring youngsters out there who are reaching for the stars?

The only thing I’d say to my younger self is to believe in yourself more and stay focused on your goals and dreams. I’ve managed to stay focused which I’ve managed to do quite well. I’ve never been distracted by alcohol or drugs, only a few women! [laughs]  I’m not going to let that happen again. I fell in love with a girl and it distracted me so much, but it was a great and important lesson.  For sportsmen that want to get to the top, it’s hard to find someone who really gets it or respects it fully.  Just never give up. I’ve been hit so many times in my career but I’ve never given up. If you keep going, you’ll always get what you deserve.

"The biggest thing for me is helping make rally racing cool again."

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