James Thompson tests with Speedworks Motorsport (Photo Credit: Chris Enion)
Double series champion James Thompson tested the Speedworks Motorsport NGTC-spec Toyota Avensis driven by Tony Hughes during the season at Donington Park. Photographer Chris Enion captured these pictures of the day.
Speedworks boss Christian, pictured above talking to Thompson, told btcc.net the test was an opportunity to work on the general set-up of the Avensis with Thompson, who also tested the new spec car in its development stages before its introduction at the beginning od the 2011 season.
Thompson was crowned BTCC champion in 2002 at 2004, and has driven for Honda, Vauxhall and SEAT works teams since he entered the series as a privateer in 1994.
He has also competed across Europe, in the WTCC, ETCC and Scandanavian series driving variously for SEAT, Honda and Volvo. He made a guest appearance at Silverstone in October for the final round of BTCC, driving a third Ford Focus ST of Airwaves Racing.
In their first season in the BTCC Speedworks and Tony Hughes struggled for pace with the new car they recieved scarcely two weeks before the start of the season. The team tested several times with different drivers – including Kelvin Burt – trying to refine the handling on the car. Hughes ended the season with a best finish of 14th from 17 starts.
