James Thompson (racing driver)

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James Thompson
2006 BTCC driver
Nationality
Car #	14
Car	SEAT León
Drivers championships	2
Wins	33
Podium finishes	109
Poles	29
Fastest laps	27
Debut season	1994
Best championship result	1st (2002, 2004)
2006 position	6th (162 points)
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James Thompson (born April 26, 1974) is a British auto racing driver from York. He twice been champion of the British Touring Car Championship. In 2005 he raced away from the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) for the first time in over a decade, joining Alfa Romeo for the World Touring Car Championship.

He started racing in the BTCC in a privately-entered Peugeot in 1994, his performances earning him a factory Vauxhall drive for 1995. He became the youngest ever race-winner that year, also taking 2 pole positions, before his season was cut short by a crash at Knockhill. 1996 was a transitional year with the new Vectra car, although James took a victory at Oulton Park, moving up from 5th in a 2-lap burst in which Roberto Ravaglia and Rickard Rydell collided, Joachim Winkelhock spun, and Alain Menu broke down.

In 1997 James joined Honda, finishing 3rd in the championship in 1998, and 4th in 1999. He missed two rounds through injury in 2000.

When Honda pulled out for 2001 James joined Team Egg Sport, racing their Vauxhall to 4 wins and 3rd overall - enough to earn him a return to the factory Vauxhall team for 2002, and a titanic 3-year battle against team-mate Yvan Muller in their dominant Astra. James was BTCC champion in both 2002 and 2004, before seeking a new challenge in World Touring Cars for 2005 with Alfa Romeo.

His first WTCC season opened with a win, but was not a huge success overall. On November 13, 2005 it was confirmed that he would be moving to SEAT Sport for 2006. After 8 2006 races he lies 4th overall.

He also competed in 18 of the 30 races of the BTCC. For most of the season he raced in the second SEAT Sport UK car, but at Silverstone for the final round he used his Red Bull-backed WTCC car. After competing in the first 9 races, he was actually ahead of BTCC team leader Jason Plato. Despite having to yield the victory to Plato at Croft, he finished 6th overall, socring more points per entry than any other SEAT driver (although Plato failed to start 2 races due to accident damage). He has been linked to a full-time BTCC return in 2007.

[edit] Race of Champions

After Jenson Button had to pull out of the 2006 Race of Champions Thompson was announced as his replacement on December 13, 2006. He will be competing for the English team with Andy Priaulx on December 16, 2006.

[edit] External links

• Profile from btccinfo.co.uk
• btcc:action profile

• Media on James Thompson (racing driver) in the Wikicommons.