THOMPSON OUT TO "DAMAGE" VAUXHALL AT OULTON PARK
James Thompson (Harrogate) is aiming to inflict further damage
on former team Vauxhall at Oulton Park on Sunday and help
his SEAT squad increase its lead in the Dunlop MSA British
Touring Car Manufacturers' standings before he is forced to
take a two-month break from the championship.
Former double champion Thompson has achieved two race wins
since joining SEAT for 2006 and with team-mate Jason Plato
has helped the Spanish manufacturer draw clear of arch British
rival Vauxhall by 134 points to 88.
And the Yorkshireman doesn't appear to care too much that
recently, at Mondello Park, he lost his lead in the Drivers'
standings - the result of being swiped in a first bend pile-up.
"Being parked at the side of the road with my car smashed
up and unable to help score points for SEAT in the Manufacturers'
championship was what disappointed me more," said Thompson.
"I don't care that much about the Drivers' championship
- I'm not going to win that because I'm not doing all the
rounds."
And he added: "At Oulton Park, it'll be business as
usual - my job is to damage Vauxhall's Manufacturers' chances
by scoring as many points as I can for SEAT. And I think we'll
be in good shape. The SEAT is performing very well and I love
the Oulton circuit."
After Oulton, clashing World Touring Car Championship commitments
mean Thompson will miss the following rounds at Thruxton -
he'll be replaced by new SEAT signing Darren Turner - and
then there's a six-week gap before the BTCC resumes at his
home track of Croft, North Yorkshire on 16 July.
Thompson, meanwhile, knows only too well that Vauxhall has
the ability to fight back against SEAT - he drove the Luton
marque's cars to 18 race wins and two titles between 2001
and 2004 when it dominated the BTCC's Drivers', Manufacturers'
and Teams' championships.
Despite losing the first two titles in 2005, Vauxhall still
achieved a fifth consecutive Manufacturers' crown ahead of
SEAT. And said Thompson: "Vauxhall might not have been
at a level it's used to at Mondello, but it's a great team
and I'm sure internally everyone is pulling in the right direction
to come back very strong.
"Whether it can turn things around in time to make its
cars quick enough at Oulton I don't know, but I'd never rule
its cars out..."
The BTCC will be in race action three times at Oulton Park
on Sunday and the crowds will also be able to meet the drivers
for autographs and give-aways during the hugely popular Pit
Lane Walkabout. In addition, there will be a further six championship
races from high-profile manufacturers BMW, Porsche, Renault
and SEAT.
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