Perfect start for Thompson

James Thompson seized the initiative in the first round of the Green Flag British Touring Car Championship with a double win at Mondello Park yesterday.

The reigning champion benefited from a wet first race to take victory ahead of his Vauxhall team-mate, Yvan Muller, before pulling off a late move in the second race in Ireland to again pip the Frenchman.

Pouring rain during the first race forced the safety car on to the track several times and Thompson took the lead from Muller with a quicker pit-stop strategy, despite spinning early on and falling down the order.

In race two, Muller looked to have stolen the victory with two laps to go when he pushed past Thompson, but on the penultimate corner of the last lap the Yorkshireman dived down the inside to snatch victory.