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1 Aug 2011, 14:38 (Ref:2934541) | #1 | ||
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James Thompson leaves Volvo.
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Entire team is babies. |
1 Aug 2011, 14:52 (Ref:2934546) | #2 | ||
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it does make you wonder if he's a difficult persron to work with. Its not the first time in recent years that he's split with a team.
I for one am very dissapointed, the way the car has improved in the WTCC, a two or three car team next year with him alongside Dahlgren would have been a force... i wonder who the replacement will be?... any rumours floating around? |
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1 Aug 2011, 15:42 (Ref:2934563) | #3 | ||
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I hope he joins a BTCC team, most likely would be Honda?
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ShelSpeed Ford Anglia 105e - Pre 66 Touring Cars BMW E30 325IS - Pre 93 Touring Cars |
1 Aug 2011, 15:54 (Ref:2934568) | #4 | |
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Perhaps he's going back to join LADA with the new Granta
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1 Aug 2011, 16:11 (Ref:2934578) | #5 | |||
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1 Aug 2011, 17:38 (Ref:2934619) | #6 | ||
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Oh god, to finish what he started with them. The all new Lada range shaped in the image of James Thompson!
Seriously though, I would be amazed if he left Volvo just to spearhead a new Lada effort. Maybe he knows that Volvo just likes trolling everyone and will be pulling the plug at the end of the year... I just hope Volvo leave because one driver left, even if it is Thompson. |
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Entire team is babies. |
1 Aug 2011, 19:31 (Ref:2934666) | #7 | |
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Umm, Second team in a couple of season's he has part ways with ,Hartman being the other although he did return at a later date.
Could the split have been due to Volvo not allowing Thompson to defend his title with Hartman last week where Giovanardi took his drive and won? Thompson is a highly regarded driver so I can't see him being difficult to work with as he has undertaken many projects, Dynamics and Steve Neal will proberbly see if a third Honda could be made available if teams close in on them after Snetterton, lets hope Thommo comes back home to the BTCC now. |
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1 Aug 2011, 19:43 (Ref:2934673) | #8 | ||
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The Hartmann thing was about his engineer, wasn't it?
This Polestart split was about the direction development was heading with the car. |
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1 Aug 2011, 20:49 (Ref:2934709) | #9 | |
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Yeah. He's clearly not been comfortable in it so far and no reason for Polestar to change a car their other drivers are happy with. Can't see him being difficult to work with, seems to be an absolute gent to me. Return of Dahlgren? Zzzzz
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2 Aug 2011, 07:08 (Ref:2934852) | #10 | ||
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I'm hoping for Daniel Roos since he doesn't seem to be able to work out an open-wheeler deal. Get some new talent in there!
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3 Aug 2011, 06:55 (Ref:2935254) | #11 | ||
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Any team should be doing all they can to get JT into their car. Sure, he may have a pricetag, but his ability to develop a car is beyond doubt. Someone like Rob Austin Racing or any of the newer NGTC teams would do very well to hire him, though I fear the budgets wouldn't match up.
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3 Aug 2011, 16:37 (Ref:2935445) | #12 | ||
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3 Aug 2011, 16:41 (Ref:2935448) | #13 | ||
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Does some of the pattern of Thommo leaving teams stem from the fact that he comes with his own engineer as a package deal? I can see that causing more friction with a team when it comes to the direction car development takes than any driver by himself would cause...
I have tons of respect for Thompson's driving chops but if you make yourself into an obligate too-many-cooks-in-kitchen situation then you're going to alienate experienced teams with an engineering staff they trust, so I hope that's not what's going on. |
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3 Aug 2011, 17:30 (Ref:2935465) | #14 | |||
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Taking your engineer with you isn't too odd. Turkington took his to the STCC. |
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3 Aug 2011, 17:39 (Ref:2935470) | #15 | |
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I would intend to agree with you there. Swedish people tend to be placid and easy people to get on with, but their organized and logical approach to things may not have gone down well with an individual intent on playing the prima donna. Pity, as it would have been a good pairing.
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4 Aug 2011, 09:52 (Ref:2935708) | #16 | ||
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In my (admittedly limited) experience the words James Thompson and Prima Donna should never be used in the same sentance.
He's a blunt speaking man and quite probably wanted to go his own way on car setup / development, but with his track record (sorry!) I for one wouldn't argue!! Kim |
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4 Aug 2011, 11:11 (Ref:2935742) | #17 | |
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Has anyone thought it might also be something to do with the mess going on between the TTA (which polestar are a member) and STCC ? And that Tommo does not want to go the way of the (totally non touring car, IMHO) Solution F type car.
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4 Aug 2011, 11:11 (Ref:2935743) | #18 | ||
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Didn't he fall out in a pretty big way with John Cleland when at Vauxhall early in his career? Can anyone recall the cause of that? (or was it just two guys who didn't really get on, and i've imagined it to be more than it was?)
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4 Aug 2011, 12:37 (Ref:2935780) | #19 | ||
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As a previous poster said James Thompson and Prima Donna in the same sentence, I doubt very much. He lived in the same area as I do, same town I think and as far as I know still does. Seen him around the area on and off a lot over the years on an evening. He certainly seems a very easy going and approachable bloke and doesn't show any airs and graces. Certainly never seen him playing the big I am, just standing quietly in the corner with a small group of friends or his wife/girlfriend.
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4 Aug 2011, 16:40 (Ref:2935873) | #20 | ||
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Replaced by Tarquini! http://www.touringcartimes.com/article.php?id=6531
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4 Aug 2011, 16:45 (Ref:2935874) | #21 | |||
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6 Aug 2011, 00:46 (Ref:2936339) | #22 | |||
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In a way I think it might have been best for all parties if James had gone to the WTCC with Polestar, but at the same time Robert Dahlgren really does deserve the shot, because he has the talent... Tarquini is an interesting score, however. With Giovanardi also dropping in, you have to feel it's nuts that STCC is falling apart after a season when these two, Thompson, Turkington and Rydell all make an appearance! |
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