Honda-man James Thompson
TouringCarTimes caught up with James Thompson during the World Touring Car Championship test at Oschersleben. The Brit is driving for N-Technology this year and will make his debut for the team at Valencia with the Honda Accord.
“I think we can fight for a podium at Valencia. If we get a good lap together during qualifying I think it can be possible. The competition is very close, but I am quietly confident,” said Thompson to TouringCarTimes.com.
During the testing at Valencia the team focused on continuing to get to know the car and getting a setup for Valencia.
“We are not running a special program here. We are trying different setups and trying to understand the car. It is a completely new car for us,” said Thompson.
Last weekend Thompson did his first Danish Touring Car Championship race at Jyllandsringen. The Brit will take part in all DTC races this year that does not collide with his WTCC-campaign.
“The weekend was brilliant for me! I raced for the Hartmann Team and we took our first podium finish. We were a bit unlucky in the final race where we lost third place in the last lap. But I am feeling at home in the team and they are very professional,” said Thompson.
Thompson is not running his WTCC-Honda in the DTC. But despite the low mileage on the new cars, Thompson thinks the car will be strong at Valencia.
“The car was very competitive here in 2005 and 2006. But it is a work in progress and we have to push to get closer to the big teams at the end of the season,” said Thompson.
The plans for the future with Honda and N-Technology are not set.
“It is only a project for this year. I do not know if N-Technology would like to run Honda next year. We have no plans for introducing a second car this year,” said Thompson.