Thompson crowned as Touring Car champion
VX Racing secures the triple in an action-packed day of racing
James Thompson has won the 2004 Green Flag MAS British Touring Car Championship and has completed the triple for VX Racing. Thompson lifted the drivers' trophy at Donington Park today after an intense battle with his VX Racing team mate Yvan Muller, and with previous championship winner Jason Plato in a Seat.
The fight for victory laurels went right down to the wire and the final race weekend of the season, but it was the Yorkshireman who emerged as champion after finishing third, and claiming an extra point for the fastest lap in the final race.
Thompson took a six-point advantage into the final round, but with Muller leading and Thompson lying in third place in the closing stages it looked as though the drivers would finish equal on points. It was only the fastest lap, recorded by Thompson on the third lap of the race that made the difference between the championship win for Thompson instead of Muller.
This last round was the most exciting of the afternoon, as Plato sat glued to the bumper of Muller's leading car all the way to the line, getting a bit desperate towards the end to pass and almost nudging Muller off-track. Thompson kept a watching brief in third, knowing that all he had to do was stay there to win the championship.
It was ultimately the extra point for the 'fastest lap of the race' that won the drivers championship title for Thompson, relegating Yvan Muller to runner-up, even though he won the final round. Thompson said, "I had a feeling Yvan would win the race so I had a game-plan and tried to get the fastest lap of the race. I knew if I set the fastest lap third place would be good enough. I love the BTCC, it's given me so much pleasure over the years. It's fantastic to win!"
Thompson was ecstatic with the win, "I am made up, what can I say? It is so good to be champion, and to do it for the second time is very special. The battle between me and Yvan was very close all season, he was just a few points ahead of me right up until Snetterton, and then I just edged ahead. With just four points between us at the start of the weekend it could have gone either way. Everyone at VX Racing has worked very hard and I would like to thank the team.
Thompson added, "It has been a hard year for us, the competition has been really tough and we were not getting the results in the middle of the season. I think it is partly due to advances made by the other teams, but also due to the rules and the reverse grid for the second race. We had the pace early on and then from Mondello we struggled for the next few races. But we kept at it and the hard work paid off. I am so happy to be champion again."
After ten years of competing in British touring cars, and having experienced the highs and lows of winning in 2002 and being runner-up in 2003, Thompson eclipsed the opposition with strong performances every race weekend this season. Thompson, set to leave VX Racing, goes out on a high with the second BTCC title of his career, but sadly, will not return to defend his title in 2005.
The BTCC races all around the country at the UK’s premier circuits, and after ten events and 30 races Vauxhall finished 184 points ahead of closest rival Honda in the manufacturers’ championship and 176 points ahead of SEAT Sport UK in the race for the team title. But it was the fight for the drivers’ championship between VX Racing’s Thompson and Muller that produced plenty of drama for the crowds at Donington Park as it went down to the final race weekend and the final race of the year.
In the three races of the final race weekend Thompson posted second, fifth and third place finishes. Muller took a seventh in the first race, second in the second race and won the final race. Third driver Luke Hines finished with a sixth place, a tenth and a DNF, finishing tenth overall in the drivers championship.
The drivers were closely matched all season, with no more than a few points difference at any time, and going into the final race with just six points between them, the scene was set for a final race showdown. With nothing to separate the leading pair, it was ultimately the extra point for the 'fastest lap of the race' that won the drivers’ championship title for Thompson, relegating Muller to runner-up, even though he won the final round. Thompson’s points tally for the season was 274, while Muller totalled a very close 273. VX Racing’s young gun, Luke Hines, completed his first year with the team in tenth position in the drivers’ championships, earning Vauxhall valuable points in the team and manufacturers’ championships.
Winning the titles in the UK’s premier motor racing series, for the fourth consecutive year has elevated the Vauxhall Astra Coupe into the record books – it is the most successful car in the history of the British Touring Car Championship.
The 2.0 litre Vauxhall Astra Coupes have dominated the touring car scene from the introduction of the model in 2001, and this year finished ahead of their closest rivals, Honda and SEAT. Strong performances from all three drivers secured the team title for VX Racing.
The drivers' title will be added to the manufacturers' and team titles also won by Vauxhall and VX Racing, securing the triple win for the fourth year in a row.
Stuart Harris, VXR brand manager at Vauxhall, said, "This year has been a record for us, taking our fourth manufacturers' title with the Vauxhall Astra Coupe, puts it into the record books as the most successful British touring car ever. And, I suspect that we have set a record for the closest ever finish in the drivers' championship – it really wasn't decided until the chequered flag. Exciting, tense and highly dramatic we couldn't have asked for more."
Rambofanso said:Agreed! Except that, yet again, some of the racing was more closely related to that of the dirt-track banger variety than what one should expect of the country's premium saloon car championship.
Saw it live, it was superb, proper racing, I only wish formula one can get competitive again! Well done to SEAT, great sports in supplying a field full of cars for the last race which were all identical, Just 'Brilliant' Made my Sunday!
Yet again it wasn't just the old hands either. James Thompson and Anthony Reid weren't the only ones who should know better than to punt others off the track.
Mind you, there were some good performances too. Tom Chilton and Jason Plato seemed to have the idea and showed how it should be done.
Close racing with minimal contact. That's the way to do it 
www.seatcupra.net/BTCCMastersChampions_260904.htm
I personally liked the look of the 96-99 type of cars, as a majority of the cars looked pretty much like your average 4 door saloon. Currently I think it’s getting a bit more like bolt on city and obtaining more of a boy racer image, using hot hatch, coupe style cars, with added body work effect.
I do agree the last race was pretty good to watch.
jj
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