British fans will have another driver to support when the WTCC arrives at Brands Hatch, with the announcement that James Thompson will race his Hartmann Honda at Brands Hatch and Monza.
Thompson, who raced all over the world in 2009, for Hartmann Honda in Denmark and finished third overall, for Team Dynamics in the BTCC, in a Honda Civic and finished the season 9th overall, with 3 wins, a part season with LADA in the WTCC and took a double points finish at Imola, the first for a Russian manufacturer, and ended up 17th overall, as well as 2 races down in Australia.
Thompson has already said 'never say never' to a BTCC return in 2010, though it would depend on the teams budget, and it would only be as a cameo appearance, as most of the Danish and Scandinavian dates clash with the BTCC dates.
Thompson has faith in the cars ability to perform on the world stage: “I think we can spring a surprise or two at one of those races and represent ourselves well.”
Hans Hartmann, the team principle has announced that the European Touring Car Cup is the teams main aim, as Thompson won the one off event at Braga last year, in the Honda, but they are also looking at the occasional WTCC race to try and tempt Honda into the Championship: “Our priority is the FIA European Touring Car Cup, because we want to defend the title James won last year at Braga, However we are also looking at occasional participation in the WTCC, because we would like to warm Honda up for the future.”
The team have also confirmed that they are in talks with a number of experienced drivers for the second seat within the team.