Ingall: I'd had enough

Russell Ingall says he had "had enough" racing with the Holden Racing Team, having signed off with team boss Adrian Burgess before taking up the opportunity to race with Championship front-runners Prodrive Racing.

Ingall has jumped from the factory Holden team to the front-running Ford organisation for one of his favourite races, the Castrol Gold Coast 600, and believes there will be benefits for him and employer FOX SPORTS suiting up with a different group this weekend.

While Ingall's announcement with the rival squad - to team with Cameron Waters and replace injured Chaz Mostert - came before James Courtney's ok to drive, 'The Enforcer' turned expert commentator says there was nothing untoward in the dealings.

"In my head and when I did the deal recently with Holden Racing Team it was - I had to commit to Bathurst, that was a definite, because if James wasn't fit for it they didn't want to be searching for a new driver," Ingall explained to v8supercars.com.au.

"I said ok, I saw Fox Sports, they said we'll let you do both events - but that was always the deal ... the Monday after Bathurst, to be honest, I was a bit done.

"I thought, 'yep, had a good time, good results, really enjoyed the experience, we got a lot out of it through TV, and personally as well'- it was great to drive the official factory Holden Racing Team car, not too many people have done that, so it was good to be a part of that.

"But on the other side of it I thought 'nope, I've had enough'.

"So Monday I sent an email to Adrian Burgess and said, 'I'm out, thanks for the opportunity'. I got a really nice email from him saying really appreciate all your work, did a fantastic job, it was all good.

"So and then I did get the text from [Prodrive boss] Tim Edwards Tuesday saying are you available, and funnily enough, I am because I just said I won't be doing it."

While he felt they had run out of opportunity for fresh TV features and stories with HRT, stepping into a different group and car with a different teammate means more content, which ticks the box for FOX SPORTS in Ingall's opinion.

An awesome Back to the Future theme this weekend adds another layer of excitement, as 21-year old Waters pairs with the 51-year old veteran.

Ingall will notch up his 250th start and says he proved in the past two rounds he still has what it takes. His last podium finish came at the Gold Coast in 2013.

"You don't forget how to go fast and you definitely don't forget how to race - so I definitely think that had a lot to do with it as well, with the decision," Ingall said.

"They [Prodrive] obviously don't want to put a dud in the car because Cam is a true talent of the sport. They want it to be competitive - they just don't want to run around making up the numbers, so it was a bit flattering as well to get the call up for this top team...

"Bathurst was the fastest I've ever been around there in 23 visits - I did a '6.2' on used tyres in one of the practice sessions and that's the fastest I've been around there by a second.

"So I think that's why they looked at it and went, 'geez, he can still steer alright!'"

Ingall's appearance at the Back to the Future launch was his first with Prodrive and Waters today before hitting the track on Friday for the Castrol Gold Coast 600.