YORK'S James Thompson was unable to find the inspiration he needed to make an impression in the Auto Trader British Touring Car Championship at Croft, near Darlington, yesterday.

He finished seventh in round 13 in his Honda Accord, but improved a couple of places in round 14 - performances which leave him in eighth place overall with 59 points.

Switzerland's Alain Menu heads the championship with 128 points, just one ahead of Antony Reid, but the star of the show at Croft was Rickard Rydell.The Swedish ace enjoyed two wins, two pole positions and two new lap records to give the Ford Team Mondeo the perfect weekend.

Rydell's double also put him firmly back into contention for the overall title and is now in third place.

Rydell said: "That was a very good day. In the last four races I have nor scored very well, so this is what I needed."

Thompson was involved in a real tussle with Belgian Vincent Radermecker (Vauxhall Vectra) throughout Race 13,m but could not find a way back the York flier, whose team-mate Yvan Muller nipped ahead of Radermecker on the final lap to snatch eighth place.

Thompson was a victim of last lap heroics in Race 14 when Independents Michelin Cup star Matt Neal passed Thomspon to take fourth place in his Nissan Primera.