Team HARD has confirmed that Bobby Thompson will continue to race for the team in the 2023 British Touring Car Championship, as the 26-year-old enters into his fifth season in the series.
Thompson joined the BTCC in 2018 with Team HARD, and with the exception of a curtailed 2020 season, he has raced with them ever since.
After missing the 2021 season, Thompson returned to the BTCC in 2022 in one of the Kent-based squad’s CUPRA Leon cars, ending the year as the outfit’s best-ranked driver in the standings in 14th overall.
Thompson took an outright podium finish at Brands Hatch in May – the first of his career – and finished in the top ten on six occasions, with three of those coming in the final two meetings.
“I’m excited to be remaining with Team HARD next year,” said Thompson. “They have provided me with the opportunities to make huge steps in my career, including my BTCC debut in 2018.
“Looking ahead to next season, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t absolutely buzzing for it! We came off the back of last season with a really strong package at Silverstone and Brands Hatch and I think we have a huge opportunity to challenge for the Independent Drivers’ Championship next year.
“I’m under no illusions as to the work needed to take the next step, but I believe that both myself and the team are ready.
“I’d like to thank all of my sponsors for a wonderful season in 2022 and the opportunity to continue this journey into 2023, I will be giving it everything!”
Team HARD owner Tony Gilham was pleased to retain Thompson in the team’s driver line-up, saying that he had been ‘in demand’ in the paddock.
“We are very happy to confirm that Bobby will be back in a CUPRA Leon for the 2023 season,” said Gilham. “This announcement is testament to how far we have come as a team in that we are able to retain a driver with such ability and demand within the BTCC paddock.
“Bobby has done a fantastic job in 2022 and he has made an essential contribution to the team’s success and growth this year.
“It is now down to the team to ensure that our winter development programme improves the CUPRA Leon further to enable Bobby to mount a serious challenge towards the front of the pack in 2023.”