WIGAN rider John Ingram has announced his plans to compete in the TT this year.

He is the latest rider from the British Championship paddock to turn his attention to the roads.

Ingram will be supported by leading British Superbike Championship team SMT whose owner Robin Croft is a long time supporter of the TT having assisted both John McGuinness and Michael Rutter in recent years.

In 2006 Ingram began competing in the British Superstock Championship. He achieved pole position at the Brands Hatch race and went on to score points at the majority of the rounds.

The following year he had a number of points scoring finishes in the Superstock series but a lack of finances forced him to miss the majority of the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

In 2010 he made a great impact on his return which included setting the outright lap record at Aintree, a record that still stands today.

Ingram enjoyed a strong 2011 season with the highlight being an excellent sixth place finish in the Superstock race at Croft where he finished ahead of TT racers John McGuinness and David Johnson.

He also made his debut at the Stars at Darley race last year when he finished seventh overall. He finished ahead of TT rider Keith Amor in the second race.

John will now become part of the TT newcomers' programme which will include guided laps and sessions with TT rider liaison officers John Barton and Richard 'Milky' Quayle.

John Ingram said: "It has always been a major ambition of mine to compete at the TT races but to date the opportunity hasn't been right.

"I'm thrilled to finally have everything in place and am working really hard to prepare for my debut this summer."

TT rider liaison officer John Barton said: "John has exactly the right skill and temperament to be a great TT racer. He has a really professional approach and will be a strong addition to the pack hopefully for many years to come."

Pictures by Dave Collister at Photocycles