Photo: Jakob Ebrey/brcweb.co.uk

06/07/03

Reigning BTCC champion James Thompson continued his assault on the Pirelli British Rally Championship this weekend, taking on the Jim Clark Memorial Rally in Scotland. Piloting his Mitsubishi Evo VI, and assisted by co-driver Plug Pulleyn, Thompson came home in 8th position overall at the end of the 3 day event.

Lying in 9th position in the championship going in to the event, Thompson was hoping to put the disappointment of the previous rally behind him. (Rally of Scotland – Thompson was forced to retire due to a transmission problem.) A sizeable crowd turned up to watch the spectator stages at the Leith Docks on Friday night, and Thompson set 14th and 6th quickest times in these opening two runs.

The event proper got underway Saturday morning, and can only be described as wet! With a just a hint of drizzle beginning to fall, most of the crews opted for slick tyres, but this proved the wrong choice as the drizzle got heavier and heavier. The conditions claimed numerous victims, including Gwyndaf Evans in the MG Sport & Racing MG ZR. However, Thompson was clearly enjoying the first tarmac rally of the year, and by the end of stage 8 was in 3rd position.

It was not plain sailing the way though. ‘Thommo’ lost over four minutes on stage 10 after spinning the Mitsubishi in a particularly slippery dip, luckily without any damage. This dropped him to 18th position, but he was soon climbing back up through the field, making it to 8th before the end of Saturday.

Sunday was somewhat less eventful for the Yorkshireman. He continued to make good progress, but was too far behind 7th placed Tim McNulty to make up any more positions.

Overall victory in the event went to Irishman Andrew Nesbitt, one of 7 tarmac specialists in the top 10. Thompson was third of the BRC regulars, being beaten by just Team Dynamics Toyota Corolla driver Jonny Milner and Austin McHale in his Subaru Impreza.

Next up for Thompson is the Manx International Rally on the Isle of Man (31 July – 2 August)…but not before he has returned to his natural habitat – his ‘home’ round of the BTCC at Croft, North Yorkshire next weekend (12-13 July).