YORK speed king James Thompson reckons this could be his year.

After nearly a decade of British Touring Car Championship action, Thompson believes he has his best chance ever of lifting the prized drivers' crown.

The 27-year-old - who became the youngest driver to win a Touring Car race aged 21 - has twice finished third in the final standings, in 1998 and last year, but that top spot has always eluded him.

Now, however, could be his time. "I'm really looking forward to the season," he told the Evening Press. "It's definitely my best chance so far of winning it."

Thompson will also be competing for the first time in the British Rally Championships, which begin at the end of April.

In that competition he will be driving for Peugeot but it is his bid for glory with Vauxhall Motorsport in the BTCC which is his main aim.

"The rallying is more a low-key affair for me, while BTCC is very much the priority," he said.

"I'm going to be among the favourites to win the championship and it's what I've been involved in for eight or nine years.

"This year I stand the best chance I've ever had. I'm more focused and more relaxed than at any time in my career."

The new season begins with the first two rounds at Brands Hatch on Easter Monday. There are 20 races around the top circuits in Britain before the final chequered flag comes down at Donington Park in September.

Thompson is especially looking forward to putting the record straight at Brands.

"The last time I was there I crashed heavily and ended up in the trees," he said. "I put myself out for four races, which was very frustrating, so hopefully I won't be reliving that experience."

The former St Peter's School pupil is back with the Vauxhall factory team having previously driven for them in 1995 and '96, and will again be driving the Astra Coupe as he did last year with private team Egg Sport.

Last year, however, he was given his driving deal just before the start of the season, which meant he missed pre-season testing. And as the only testing allowed under present BTCC rules takes place before the season, that was a major handicap.

"Last year was fantastic but I wasn't quite ready for the season," he explained.

"I joined after all the testing had been done and effectively it meant I was coming into something I had never seen before and just had to start racing."

Then, of course, there was that crash which kept him out for four rounds.

He said: "Even though we had the best car it was not the best season in terms of results. I was still third in the table but I was hoping to do better.

"This year, though, I've done a lot of testing and I'm happy with the way the car is progressing from last year. I think realistically I'm better prepared and in motor sport preparation pays dividends."

Thompson reckons his biggest threat for the title will be team-mate Yvan Muller.

The Frenchman was runner-up last year to Jason Plato, who, despite his title success, was not offered a new deal with Vauxhall and quit BTCC to compete in the fledgling ASCAR series - which models itself on North American NASCAR racing - with Knaresborough-based Bintcliffe Sport.

Thompson said: "Yvan is quality and is one of the most respected guys in the paddock.

"It's difficult to pick out who will be the other main rivals. The key thing is who is going to be the consistent challenger to Vauxhall."

Updated: 10:56 Saturday, March 30, 2002