FORMER double British Touring Car Champion James Thompson is to make a return to the championship.

The North Yorkshire driver will take to the grid at the next round at Thruxton, Hampshire, on April 26 – replacing Gordon Shedden in the Team Dynamics squad.

Thompson, from York, is one of the most successful drivers in the British Touring Car Championship’s (BTCC) 50-year history. He won the drivers’ title in 2002 and 2004 and has also achieved 33 race wins, but has not contested the series since 2006.

His return follows successful tests during the winter in Dynamics’ Honda Civic.

It also means there are now four past BTCC champions on the 2009 grid – Thompson, plus North-East raised Jason Plato (Champion in 2001), Matt Neal (2005 and 2006) and Fabrizio Giovanardi (2007 and 2008).

Dynamics’ team principal Steve Neal said: “This change in our driver line-up has come about due to contractual commitments.

“Gordon has been part of Dynamics since 2006 and has been a great performer for us.

We are currently negotiating further sponsorship to run a third car for him alongside James and David Pinkney which is hoped will materialise sooner rather than later.

“James’ addition to the Dynamics line-up, meanwhile, is one I have personally hoped for since Matt (Neal) moved to the VX Racing team at the end of 2007.

“We are all hugely competitive at Team Dynamics and of course wish to return to the same sort of form that enabled us to win the BTCC outright in 2005 and 2006.

“James is truly one of the world’s top touring car drivers and I am absolutely confident that he can take the fight to the opposition and provide us with a further step-up in performance.”