Thompson Clinches Rookie Title!
Dublin teenager Gary Thompson clinched the Formula BMW Pacific Rookie Cup title at Okayama, Japan today, and with it the runner up spot in the main series.
Thompson finished third and sixth in rounds 13 and 14 of the key single seater feeder series to secure Rookie Cup honours a round early.
Saturday’s third place was his tenth podium finish of his debut season and he followed it up with a battling recovery drive in Sunday’s wet weather conditions.
Thompson qualified fourth and finished third in his E rain Motorsport run Cebu Pacific/Aviation Display car in Saturday’s race after an exciting battle during which he was constantly in the thick of the action at the front.
After running second for much of the 14 laps of the 3.7km former Formula One circuit race following a great getaway, Thompson’s car lost power slightly in the latter stages and he slipped to third.
Starting third for Sunday’s race run in a torrential downpour, Thompson was soon closing on the second place driver and looking good for another podium visit when he locked his rear tyres and slipped off track.
He resumed in 14th place and began a tigering recovery drive which eventually resulted in a sixth place finish which was enough to secure the Rookie Cup title.
Afterwards Gary was able to reflect on winning his first title in car racing after a busy weekend.
“It’s great to win the Rookie Cup and finish second in the Drivers Classification in my first year in cars. To have the Rookie Cup on my CV is good, and, while as a racing driver I don’t think I can be totally happy with being second, I’m pleased to have secured second in the championship.
I was fast and consistent throughout the year, all the while learning new tracks and learning the car and the series. However, now with everything sewn up, I can go to Macau and just go for it. There is nothing to lose and I can’t wait to race at one of the most famous tracks in world motorsport.”
Final Round: November 22nd , Macau, China.
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