Bobby Thompson makes BTCC return with Team HARD

Bobby Thompson will make a return to the BTCC grid after a year away after agreeing terms on a deal to rejoin Team HARD.

Thompson raced with Tony Gilham’s team in 2018 and 2019 before making the move to Trade Price Cars Racing for 2020; where he was fighting for the Jack Sears Trophy until a huge accident at Croft ended his year early.

The 25-year-old dropped off the BTCC grid last season and only competed in a limited number of races, including the final two meetings of the MINI CHALLENGE campaign, as he evaluated his future options.

Now, a deal has been agreed that will see Thompson back in Team HARD colours as the third driver signed up for the Cupra programme alongside Jack Goff and Aron Taylor-Smith.

“It’s really good to be back in the BTCC with the team I started my journey with,” he said. “I’ve come a long way since I was last with Team HARD, and I can already see the team is clearly putting in a massive effort to get these cars ready to be fighting at the front for the upcoming season.

“I have a great history with the team, having won the 2017 VW Cup Championship which got me on the map. So it’s great to be back, and hopefully we can continue great success and challenge for the Jack Sears Trophy this year.

“It’s always tough to miss out on a season, as I did after my crash at Croft in 2020 which put me out for the remainder of the campaign. I wanted to get back last year, but unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be. I took that time, however, to reflect upon my racing career and it only made me more motivated than ever to get back to the front of the field in the most competitive series in the UK.”

Thompson will run alongside Goff as one of two cars under the Autobrite Direct with Team HARD banner.

“It’s really good news to have Bobby back in one of our BTCC cars,” team boss Tony Gilham said. “We have a long history together, which started way back in the VW Cup where, of course, he secured the championship with us in 2017.

“In 2020 while competing in the Audi for Trade Price Cars, Bobby started to show the consistency required to be a top-level BTCC driver. Unfortunately, his accident took him out of the remaining rounds and for 2021. However, after a recent test, Bobby looks like he is fit and ready to attack head-on in one of our CUPRA Leons.

“Bobby has built up a great reputation within the BTCC paddock over the last few years and it’s great to be able to welcome him back into the team with open arms. I’m sure he’s going to prove to be one of the fan favourites this season. We can’t wait to get going!”