Thompson Crowned Champion

19 Oct 10

James Thompson claimed the FIA European Touring Car Cup (ETCC) title for the second year in a row by securing a double podium finish at the season finale in Italy on 17 October. Thompson had to face tough competition from FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) regular Michel Nykjær and Tomas Engström at the Franciacorta International Circuit, near Milan, Italy.

At the start of race one, Nykjær took the lead from pole-sitter Thompson and started pulling out a comfortable gap in the wet. Engström also caught up with fellow Honda driver Thompson but the championship leader defended well to keep the Swedish driver behind him in the first half of the race. Nykjær’s SEAT León TDI crossed the finish line first, while Engström eventually got past Thompson, out-braking him at turn 13, and secured second place, with the Brit finishing third.

In race two, BMW driver Ibrahim Okyay took the lead at the start, with Engström in second, while Nykjær was tapped into a spin as he was fighting for third. Engström charged after Okyay and passed him to take the lead, while Thompson moved up to second. Meanwhile, Nykjær recovered from the spin and started catching up to the leaders. The Dane soon passed Thompson for second and charged after Engström, overtaking him a lap before the chequered flag to claim his second victory of the weekend ahead of the Swede.

The YOKOHAMA-equipped Hartmann Racing Honda Accord of Thompson crossed the line third again, which was enough for the defending champion to wrap up the title with a four-point margin to Nykjær. “I am champion again and this is all that counts,” said Thompson. “I knew that with all the ballast I had on my car it was impossible to beat Nykjær’s SEAT on the race distance and therefore I focused on finishing both races in the points.”

Championship Points – Super 2000 (top eight)
1. James Thompson  (GBR)  44
2. Michel Nykjær  (DEN)  40
3. Tomas Engström  (SWE)  38
4. Ibrahim Okyay  (TUR)  22
5. Wolfgang Treml  (AUT)  18
6. César Campaniço   (POR)  15
7. Kristian Poulsen  (DEN)  14
8. Peter Rikli   (SUI)    8

Championship Points – Super Production
1. Vojislav Lekić    (SRB)  40
2. Fabio Fabiani    (ITA)  32

Championship Points – Super 1600
1. Carsten Seifert  (GER)  54
2. Jens Löhnig   (GER)  44
3. Sergey Krylov  (RUS)  25
4. Charlie Geipel  (GER)  12
5. Florian Heitmeier  (GER)  12
6. Zeljko Markovic  (HRV)    9