at Oulton Park

James Thompson (Harrogate) is aiming to inflict further damage on former team Vauxhall at Oulton Park on Sunday and help his SEAT squad increase its lead in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Manufacturers' standings before he is forced to take a two-month break from the championship.

Former double champion Thompson has achieved two race wins since joining SEAT for 2006 and with team-mate Jason Plato has helped the Spanish manufacturer draw clear of arch British rival Vauxhall by 134 points to 88.

And the Yorkshireman doesn't appear to care too much that recently, at Mondello Park, he lost his lead in the Drivers' standings - the result of being swiped in a first bend pile-up.

"Being parked at the side of the road with my car smashed up and unable to help score points for SEAT in the Manufacturers' championship was what disappointed me more," said Thompson. "I don't care that much about the Drivers' championship - I'm not going to win that because I'm not doing all the rounds."

And he added: "At Oulton Park, it'll be business as usual - my job is to damage Vauxhall's Manufacturers' chances by scoring as many points as I can for SEAT. And I think we'll be in good shape. The SEAT is performing very well and I love the Oulton circuit."

After Oulton, clashing World Touring Car Championship commitments mean Thompson will miss the following rounds at Thruxton - he'll be replaced by new SEAT signing Darren Turner - and then there's a six-week gap before the BTCC resumes at his home track of Croft, North Yorkshire on 16 July.

Thompson, meanwhile, knows only too well that Vauxhall has the ability to fight back against SEAT - he drove the Luton marque's cars to 18 race wins and two titles between 2001 and 2004 when it dominated the BTCC's Drivers', Manufacturers' and Teams' championships.

Despite losing the first two titles in 2005, Vauxhall still achieved a fifth consecutive Manufacturers' crown ahead of SEAT. And said Thompson: "Vauxhall might not have been at a level it's used to at Mondello, but it's a great team and I'm sure internally everyone is pulling in the right direction to come back very strong.

"Whether it can turn things around in time to make its cars quick enough at Oulton I don't know, but I'd never rule its cars out..."

The BTCC will be in race action three times at Oulton Park on Sunday and the crowds will also be able to meet the drivers for autographs and give-aways during the hugely popular Pit Lane Walkabout. In addition, there will be a further six championship races from high-profile manufacturers BMW, Porsche, Renault and SEAT.

Note to sportsdesks: hi-res, copyright free images of the BTCC are available on request from the contact below.

Now racing for SEAT, double champion James Thompson is aiming to make life awkward for former team Vauxhall at Oulton Park