BTCC CHAMPION THOMPSON BEATS SCHUMACHER
Newly crowned Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Champion
James Thompson has been voted the top motor racing driver
of 2004 – ahead of Michael Schumacher.
Thompson, who dramatically won his second BTCC title by a
point from Vauxhall team-mate Yvan Muller, was the fans’
favourite on motor sport website www.Crash.net.
Thompson received 2,903 votes, compared to Ferrari’s
seven-times Formula One World Champion Schumacher’s
2,857.
The vote is further evidence of the BTCC's increasing profile
on the world stage.
This year the championship enjoyed a 40 per cent increase
in terrestrial television airtime on the UK’s biggest
commercial channel ITV1, an increase in viewing figures and
an increase in crowd numbers.
It also now plays to TV audiences around the globe, from
the USA to Australia. Pan-European satellite channel Motors
dedicated 90 hours of live coverage to BTCC race meetings
in 2004. Live coverage of the championship was also shown
in parts of Russia.
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