James Thompson will make a return to the World Touring Car Championship at the Slovakiaring next weekend, deputising for René Münnich at the ALL-INKL.com Münnich Motorsport team.
The Brit returns to the WTCC almost one year since he was dropped from the works LADA line-up in 2015 following the then third round of the season.
Münnich himself will not be able to drive his Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1 due to clashing commitments in the FIA World Rallycross Championship that weekend, which is the German driver’s main priority for the 2016 season.
“We are very happy to welcome James Thompson to our team,” said Team Manager Dominik Greiner. “Everybody at ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport is delighted to see ‘Thommo’ behind the wheel of the Chevrolet Cruze TC1. James is a true legend in touring cars with two BTCC titles and four WTCC race wins so far.
“The most important thing for James next weekend will be track time; to drive and learn the car. And in the races we hope that his great experience will help him to finish both races in a good position. For the moment it’s only a one-off event for James but we have some more clashes for René in RX during the season so let’s see how we all end up during the weekend.”
Although Brit Thompson has never before scored points at the Slovakian circuit he has raced there twice previously in 2013 and 2014.
Greiner also said that Münnich will return to the WTCC at the round at the Hungaroring a week later, adding that Münnich had prioritised Rallycross due to it being the first round of the season.
“Our regular driver René Münnich will be busy at the same weekend behind his all-new and 100 per cent self-made SEAT Ibiza RX car during the first round of the World RX in Portugal,” explained Greiner. “René likes the Slovakiaring a lot, therefore it was not an easy decision for René to decide either between FIA WTCC or World RX. But RX Portugal will be the first round of the season and it’s important for the first event of his self-manufactured SEAT Ibiza RX car.
“Everybody at ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport put a lot of effort in the two rallycross cars over the winter and we are proud and happy to see them on track soon. René will be back in the Cruze for the WTCC at the Hungaroring.”