Former double champion James Thompson has said a return to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is at the top of his 2012 wish list.
Thompson says only a full-time drive in the British or World touring car championships are of interest to him – he made his first appearance in the BTCC since 2009 in this year’s season finale at Silverstone driving a Ford Focus for Airwaves Racing.
The Leeds ace told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “It will either be the British championship or the World – it won’t be anything else.
“The one thing that I haven’t achieved is the World Championship – I’ve finished third but I haven’t won it. If there was a possibility of getting a car that gave me the chance to win the World Championship then, obviously, I would be very interested in that.
“But outside of that I don’t just want to be in it for the sake of it and I would prefer to race in the British Championship if faced with that. Basically, I have narrowed my options down and it’s just a matter of coming up with the right package.”
Thompson, who won the BTCC in 2002 and 2004, was also full of praise for the BTCC following his outing last month at Silverstone – there, a record 30 cars appeared on the grid with the championship’s new turbocharged Next Generation Touring Car regulations drawing interest from both current and many more potentially new teams.
He added: “The BTCC now looks very, very strong and there are a few teams that are interested in me for next year. One of them said ‘well, why don’t you come and drive the car in the last round of the season?’ I was going to go and watch the race anyway so it’s nice that someone could put a car on for me and let me enjoy the weekend.
“It was really good – there was a great atmosphere and, while we didn’t have the best weekend because of a few mechanical problems, it was very enjoyable and just nice to see how the championship is blossoming. It’s very promising at the minute.
“I’ve been lucky to have raced all over the place but I think having done that it’s nice to be in the UK and it’s amazing the support we have fan-wise and things. A lot of people seem to want me back and it’s nice – it’s always nice to feel like you are wanted.”
