Bobby Thompson will join the Trade Price Cars Racing squad for the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, ahead of the team’s second season in the popular Tin-Top series.
In their debut campaign in 2019, the Essex-based outfit finished 11th in the Teams’ Standings and fourth in the Independent Teams Championship – securing a podium finish on their debut at Brands Hatch with Jake Hill, before also clinching their first win in the series at Knockhill later in the season.
Thompson will drive one of the squad’s two Audi S3 Saloons, with the teams second driver to be announced in due course.
The Hornchurch-based driver made his debut in the series back in 2018 with Team HARD, securing a number of top-10 finishes along the way; including a sixth-place finish at Brands Hatch in April.
Promising Potential
Thompson is relishing the prospect of regularly challenging the top-10 and fighting for his first podium finish as well as fighting for the Jack Sears Trophy – which is open to any driver who is yet to secure a podium finish in the series.
“It’s great to have signed a deal with Trade Price Cars Racing and I’m really looking forward to the new season,” Thompson told the BTCC.
“As a new team, they had a fantastic year with plenty of success on track, and my goal is to help them to build on that in 2020 and fight for more trophies.”
“I’ve been able to learn a lot during the two seasons that I’ve spent in the BTCC so far, and I think I’ve shown I have the pace to run inside the top-10. The goal now is to do that on a regular basis, and I think it’s something that we can do with ease based on how the car performed this year with Jake [Hill].” Thompson added.
The 23 year old finished third in the series last year so knows he has the confidence to aim high again.
“If I can get onto the podium during the season, then it would be fantastic, and the Jack Sears Trophy has to be my aim for the year as a whole. I was third in the standings this year, and I’m confident that I can build on that and fight for the title.”
Eager To Sign Thompson
Since Trade Price Cars joined the grid last season, Thompson has been one of the drivers they have been keen to join the team.
“We’re delighted to confirm Bobby as our first driver for the 2020 season,” said Trade Price Cars Racing’s team owner Dan Kirby.
“When we announced that we were going to join the BTCC grid twelve months ago, he was a driver who we tried to get on board, and although it was close, we weren’t quite able to get the deal done.”
Kirby commended the performances he has seen from Thompson and hopes these will continue with his team this season.
“He is someone who we have kept a close eye on throughout the year and it’s fantastic that we’ve now been able to get a deal sorted to bring him onboard. He is a driver who has shown real potential during his time in touring cars and I’m confident that when he gets behind the wheel of our Audi, he will be able to take a step forward and regularly fight inside the top-10.”
Kirby added, “He certainly has the talent to make it onto the podium and I think that is a realistic goal for him to aim for. With Bobby as part of our new-look driver pairing for 2020, I think another good season lies ahead.”
Thompson will undertake a pre-season testing programme before the 2020 season kicks off at Donington Park on the 28th and 29th March.
