James Thompson (racing driver)
James Thompson | |
---|---|
Thompson at the 2014 FIA WTCC Race of Belgium. | |
Nationality | British |
Born |
York, North Yorkshire, England | 26 April 1974
World Touring Car Championship career | |
Debut season | 2005 |
Current team | ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport |
Car no. | 15 |
Former teams |
Lada Sport Rosneft N. Technology SEAT Sport Squadra Corse Alfa Romeo |
Starts | 156 |
Wins | 4 |
Poles | 2 |
Fastest laps | 7 |
Best finish | 3rd in 2007 |
Previous series | |
2011 2010–11 2009, 2011 2009–10 2009 2008–10 2001, 2003–04 2000 1998 1997 1994–2004, 2006 1992 |
Lada Granta Cup Scandinavian Touring Car Championship British Touring Car Championship European Touring Car Cup V8 Supercars Danish Touringcar Championship European Touring Car Championship Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters Belgian Procar Super Tourenwagen Cup British Touring Car Championship Formula Vauxhall Junior |
Championship titles | |
2009–10 2002, 2004 |
European Touring Car Cup British Touring Car Championship |
James Thompson (born 26 April 1974 in York, England) is a British auto racing driver who currently competes in the World Touring Car Championship. He has twice been champion of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), and was third in the 2007 World Touring Car Championship.
Racing career
British Touring Car Championship
He started racing in the BTCC in a privately entered Peugeot 405 in 1994, his performances earning him a factory Vauxhall drive for 1995. He became the youngest ever race-winner that year, also taking two pole positions, before his season was cut short by a crash at Knockhill giving him an eye injury. 1996 was a transitional year with the new Vauxhall Vectra, although Thompson took a victory at Snetterton, moving up from fifth in a two-lap burst in which Roberto Ravaglia and Rickard Rydell collided, Joachim Winkelhock spun, and Alain Menu broke down.
In 1997, Thompson joined Honda, finishing fifth in the championship in 1997, third in 1998, and fourth in 1999. He missed two rounds through injury in 2000, but was able to finish ninth.
When Honda pulled out for 2001, Thompson joined Team Egg Sport, racing their Vauxhall to four wins and third overall – enough to earn him a return to the factory Vauxhall team for 2002, which featured a titanic three-year battle with team-mate Yvan Muller in their dominant Astra. Thompson was BTCC champion in both 2002 and 2004, and was second in 2003 behind Muller.
For 2006, Thompson joined Jason Plato at SEAT Sport UK.[1] He did this at the same time as competing in the WTCC, meaning he had to skip some BTCC rounds when they clashed with World touring car events. He competed in six of the ten meetings that the BTCC held that year. 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 nine races, he was actually ahead of BTCC team leader Plato. Despite having to yield the victory to Plato at Croft, he finished sixth overall, scoring more points per entry than any other SEAT driver; although Plato failed to start two races due to accident damage.
For 2009, rumours had placed Thompson with a possible return to the BTCC after discussions with Team Dynamics to race one of their Honda Civics. He also tested a Tempus Sport Chevrolet Lacetti and a Motorbase Performance BMW 320si. However, his name was missing from the pre-season entry list, and it was later announced he would spend another year in the Danish series. It was then announced in April, prior to the Thruxton round that he would return to the BTCC, replacing Gordon Shedden. He collected a double win at Donington Park, and added a third win at Oulton Park. After the round at Knockhill, Thompson was replaced by ex-Formula One driver Johnny Herbert due to clashes with his commitments in the WTCC and V8 Supercars.[2][3]
Thompson was chosen as the development driver for the new Next Generation Touring Car regulations, and participated in first practice for the 2010 season finale at Brands Hatch in a prototype car based on a Toyota Avensis.[4]
He returned to racing for the 2011 season finale with Airwaves Racing to support Mat Jackson's title bid.[5] The weekend did not go well with two retirements in the first two races, but a single point for fastest lap in the last race was to be the best result of the weekend.
World Touring Car Championship
For 2005, Thompson attempted a new challenge in the World Touring Car Championship, with Alfa Romeo. His first WTCC season opened with a win, but was not a huge success overall. He finished the season eighth in the standings. Alfa Romeo pulled out of the WTCC at the end of the season, leaving Thompson's future uncertain.[6]
For 2006 he moved to SEAT Sport, the team which he would also drive for in that year's BTCC.[7] Within the first six races, Thompson finished on the podium three times but in the second half of the season he finished in the points on only three occasions. In a team that featured a top driver lineup including Yvan Muller and Gabriele Tarquini, he finished eighth in the Drivers Championship.
In 2007, Thompson rejoined Alfa Romeo in the WTCC run by N.Technology. Although his aged Alfa Romeo 156 was not as well developed as his works-backed rivals, he fought for the championship title until the final race and ended the season in third place.
In 2008 he competed for N.Technology in a Honda Accord Euro R in the WTCC. He also drove an Accord in the Danish Touring Car Championship. After missing the first two WTCC meetings, the team struggled to develop the car competitively. However, the team steadily worked on the car over the season and scored their first win of the season at Imola. However, N.Technology announced its withdrawal at the end of the year, leaving Thompson without a drive.
He also returned to the WTCC with Lada Sport in July 2009, driving their new Priora model.[8] He participated in five events with Lada Sport, achieving a best result of sixth place in both races at Imola. Thompson was unable to participate in the final event at Macau following a heavy collision in qualifying with the stationary car of Stefano D'Aste.[9]
Thompson returned to the WTCC in 2012 with Lada Sport driving a Lada Granta WTCC at both the Race of Hungary and the Race of Portugal.[10]
He will return to the WTCC in 2013, driving a Lada Granta WTCC full-time with Lada Sport Lukoil alongside new team mate Aleksei Dudukalo.[11] During qualifying for the Race of Italy he was hit by Dudukalo who had missed the braking point for the first chicane. Thompson was already through to Q2 and he returned to the pits for repairs before taking part in the second session. He set the ninth fastest time which would give him a front row start when the grid was reversed for race two.[12] Lada later withdrew both of their cars prior to the races as neither could be repaired in time to participate.[13]
European Touring Car Cup
He won the 2009 European Touring Car Cup at the Circuito Vasco Sameiro near Braga in Portugal, driving a Honda Accord for Hartmann Honda Racing.
In 2010 he revealed a schedule of ETCC, the new-for-2010 Scandinavian Touring Car Cup and DTC, Danish Touring Car Championship. He won the season opener of ETCC and led the championship, but a few days before the Scandinavian season kicked off, he parted ways with Danish team Hartmann Honda Racing.[14] The two got back together heading for the second round of ETCC.[15] Thompson successfully defended his ETCC title in 2010.[16]
Scandinavian Touring Car Championship
In 2011, he raced in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship for Polestar Racing in their Volvo C30. He left the team in the middle of season, citing differences in the development direction of the car as the reason for the departure.[17] His replacement was later announced at WTCC driver Gabriele Tarquini.[18]
Race of Champions
After Jenson Button pulled out of the 2006 Race of Champions, Thompson was announced as his replacement on 13 December 2006. He competed for the British team with fellow touring car driver Andy Priaulx on 16 December 2006.
Racing record
Complete British Touring Car Championship results
(key) Races in bold indicate pole position (1 point awarded – 1996–2002 all races, 2003–present just for first race) Races in italics indicate fastest lap (1 point awarded – 2001–present all races) * signifies that driver lead race for at least one lap (1 point awarded – 1998–2002 just for feature race, 2003–present all races)
Complete Super Tourenwagen Cup results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1997 | Team Honda Sport | Honda Accord | HOC 1 |
HOC 2 |
ZOL 1 |
ZOL 2 |
NÜR 1 |
NÜR 2 |
SAC 1 |
SAC 2 |
NOR 1 |
NOR 2 |
WUN 1 |
WUN 2 |
ZWE 1 |
ZWE 2 |
SAL 1 |
SAL 2 |
REG 1 |
REG 2 |
NÜR 1 8 |
NÜR 2 7 |
27th | 41 |
Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Pos. | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | Abt Sportsline | Abt-Audi TT-R | HOC 1 |
HOC 2 |
OSC 1 17 |
OSC 2 DNS |
NOR 1 |
NOR 2 |
SAC 1 |
SAC 2 |
NÜR 1 12 |
NÜR 2 16 |
LAU 1 C |
LAU 2 C |
OSC 1 9 |
OSC 2 Ret |
NÜR 1 15 |
NÜR 2 Ret |
HOC 1 13 |
HOC 2 9 |
18th | 4 |
Complete European Touring Car Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | JAS Motorsport Italia IP | Honda Accord | MNZ 1 |
MNZ 2 |
BRN 1 |
BRN 2 |
MAG 1 |
MAG 2 |
SIL 1 |
SIL 2 |
ZOL 1 |
ZOL 2 |
HUN 1 |
HUN 2 |
A1R 1 |
A1R 2 |
NÜR 1 |
NÜR 2 |
JAR 1 2 |
JAR 2 4 |
EST 1 24 |
EST 2 2 |
20th | 107 |
2003 | GTA Racing Team Nordauto | Alfa Romeo 156 GTA | VAL 1 |
VAL 2 |
MAG 1 |
MAG 2 |
PER 1 |
PER 2 |
BRN 1 |
BRN 2 |
DON 1 |
DON 2 |
SPA 1 |
SPA 2 |
AND 1 |
AND 2 |
OSC 1 |
OSC 2 |
EST 1 8 |
EST 2 8 |
MNZ 1 1 |
MNZ 2 Ret |
12th | 12 |
2004 | AutoDelta Squadra Corse | Alfa Romeo 156 | MNZ 1 |
MNZ 2 |
VAL 1 |
VAL 2 |
MAG 1 |
MAG 2 |
HOC 1 |
HOC 2 |
BRN 1 |
BRN 2 |
DON 1 1 |
DON 2 3 |
SPA 1 9 |
SPA 2 8 |
IMO 1 |
IMO 2 |
OSC 1 5 |
OSC 2 5 |
DUB 1 3 |
DUB 2 3 |
9th | 37 |
Complete World Touring Car Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.
Complete Scandinavian Touring Car Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | DC | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Polestar Racing | Volvo C30 | JYL 1 3 |
JYL 2 8 |
KNU 1 18 |
KNU 2 11 |
MAN 1 5 |
MAN 2 5 |
GÖT 1 3 |
GÖT 2 6 |
FAL 1 Ret |
FAL 2 9 |
KAR 1 |
KAR 2 |
JYL 1 |
JYL 2 |
KNU 1 |
KNU 2 |
MAN 1 |
MAN 2 |
12th | 64 |
Complete V8 Supercar results
Year | Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | Final Pos | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | 888 Racing | ADE R1 |
ADE R2 |
HAM R3 |
HAM R4 |
WIN R5 |
WIN R6 |
SYM R7 |
SYM R8 |
HDV R9 |
HDV R10 |
TOW R11 |
TOW R12 |
SAN R13 |
SAN R14 |
QLD R15 |
QLD R16 |
PHI Q 26 |
PHI R17 21 |
BAT R18 Ret |
SUR R19 |
SUR R20 |
PHI R21 |
PHI R22 |
PTH R23 |
PTH R24 |
SYD R25 |
SYD R26 |
50th | 180 |
References
- ↑ BTCC 2006 entry list released, TouringCarTimes.
- ↑ Johnny Herbert to do final three rounds, TouringCarTimes.
- ↑ Johnny Herbert confirmed for Dynamics, TouringCarTimes.
- ↑ First Toyota NGTC drawings revealed, Touring—Cars.net.
- ↑ Thompson joins Airwaves Racing, Touring—Cars.net.
- ↑ Alfa Romeo leaves WTCC, TouringCarTimes.
- ↑ Three top drivers to SEAT, TouringCarTimes.
- ↑ http://www.fiawtcc.com/Read_News.asp?idnews=230 James Thompson joins Lada Sport
- ↑ Thompson and D'Aste out of Macau, TouringCarTimes.
- ↑ Thompson makes WTCC comeback, Autosport.com.
- ↑ Hudson, Neil (15 November 2012). "Aleksei Dudukalo set for Lada switch in 2013". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- ↑ Tremayne, Sam (23 March 2013). "Monza WTCC: Yvan Muller dominates chaotic qualifying". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
- ↑ "Lada withdraws from the meeting". World Touring Car Championship. Kigema Sport Organisation. 24 March 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
- ↑ http://racemag.dk/2010/04/21/thompson-og-hartmann-gar-hver-til-sit/
- ↑ http://racemag.dk/2010/07/02/hartmann-og-thompson-atter-sammen/
- ↑ Allen, Peter (17 October 2010). "Thompson Retains European Crown As Nykjaer Wins Again Thompson". TheCheckeredFlag.co.uk. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
- ↑ James Thompson and Polestar Racing part ways, TouringCarTimes.
- ↑ Volvo Polestar Racing signs Gabriele Tarquini, TouringCarTimes.
External links
Media related to James Thompson (racing driver) at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- James Thompson career summary at DriverDB.com
- Lada Sport Official website (in Russian)
- Lada Sport Official Greek website
Awards and achievements | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Nelson Piquet, Jr. |
Autosport National Racing Driver of the Year 2004 |
Succeeded by Matt Neal |
Sporting positions | ||
Preceded by Jason Plato |
British Touring Car Champion 2002 |
Succeeded by Yvan Muller |
Preceded by Yvan Muller |
British Touring Car Champion 2004 |
Succeeded by Matt Neal |
Preceded by Michel Nykjær |
European Touring Car Cup Champion 2009–2010 |
Succeeded by Fabrizio Giovanardi |