After winning the National Saloon Car Cup in 1993, James Thompson stepped up to the British Touring Car Championship for 1994, with a Peugeot 405 built in 1992.

“We ran the car from our garage and used an old horse box – it really was wing and a prayer stuff!” Thompson told our Stories From SuperTouring podcast. “Mick (Linford) gave us everything he possibly could with the car, but it was already two years old & it wasn’t very competitive when it was new!”

After impressing in the 405, taking two class wins along the way, Thompson found himself testing a Ford Mondeo for a possible drive with the works squad in 1995.

“Paul Radisich and & I used to get on really well – we were the only left foot brakers in the championship at the time, so he ended up getting me a test with the Ford. We tested together and I’d like to think I was reasonably quick & I went home.” Thompson continued.

The next day, Thompson received a phone call from Andy Rouse, who was overseeing the Ford programme for 1995 & looking for a new driver, having retired himself at the end of the 1994 season. After the test at Oulton Park, Rouse offered Thompson the seat for 1995. “Andy rung and said that I was in for next year. I was jumping around, I was like a kid at Christmas! It wasn’t a lot of money, but it didn’t matter, it was about my career and future and just being involved at the highest level.”

After a weekend of celebrating, Thompson received another call on the Monday morning. “Andy said sorry and that they had instead signed Kelvin Burt for the second seat alongside Radisich for 1995.” Thompson explains. “I went from elation to dejection. I was gutted.”

Vauxhall heard about the test and that Burt was chosen ahead of Thompson and offered him a test in the Cavalier. “Vauxhall got in touch and offered me to come down to test at Pembrey. So I went to Pembrey and we were there for about 3 days. I drove atrociously, which wasn’t great because it was effectively a shoot-out. My fastest lap was probably slower than the Safety Car that was going around!”

Chris Goodwin was expected by many to be the driver that would replace Jeff Allam in the Vauxhall line up for 1995, so it was a surprise to Thompson when he was offered the seat.

“Luckily for me, I was so young and that meant I could be an easy pushover for John, in the respect of him trying to win the championship and them not wanting anyone to threaten him and that they could get really good marketing from it. To be honest, I think it worked!”

So instead of a Ford Mondeo, Thompson found himself in a Vauxhall for the start of 1995. It wouldn’t be long before he was winning, taking only 6 races before the Yorkshireman stood on the top step of the podium.

Listen to the full story of James Thompson’s career on our podcast series, Stories From SuperTouring.