“I’m ready for the snow in Austria,” said Chris Ingram on social media before Christmas, expressing his joy at taking part in the January rally for the first time. The 2019 European champion, the first Brit to win this title, joins the ranks of top international drivers who repeatedly honor the race in the Mühlviertel. This is also due to the favorable date immediately before the annual World Cup kick-off in Monte Carlo. Ingram uses the appearance with a Skoda to collect valuable test kilometers.
But although the 29-year-old is an expert behind the wheel – he also challenged rally legend Sebastien Loeb up to the last special stage during a championship race in France last year – he, like Austria’s champion Simon Wagner and many other fast people, has to do it every year fight for his budget. “You can’t buy talent with money, but it just gives you more opportunities in motorsport,” says Ingram, who only stays afloat through crowdfunding campaigns. For Wagner, one thing is certain: “Someone like him should actually be in the World Cup.” But as of today he is one of the favorites in the Mühlviertel. Top people like him can show their class even without knowledge of the route. The French winner Adrien Fourmaux proved this last year.
Dominik Feischl
