Bobby Thompson has become the first driver confirmed with the Trade Price Cars Racing team for the 2020 BTCC season.

Thompson makes the switch to the Audi squad on the back of two seasons at the wheel of a Team HARD-run Volkswagen CC, which resulted in a best race result of sixth place and 22nd in the championship standings this year.

The 23-year-old will form part of a new look line-up for the second year team after the departure of both Jake Hill and Mark Blundell following the conclusion of the 2019 campaign.

Race winner Hill has already confirmed a switch to AmD for 2020, with Blundell’s future racing plans still to be revealed.

“It’s great to have signed a deal with Trade Price Cars Racing and I’m really looking forward to the new season,” Thompson said. “As a new team, they had a fantastic year with plenty of success on track, and my goal is to help them build on that in 2020 and fight for more trophies.

“I’ve been able to learn a lot during the two seasons that I’ve spent in the BTCC so far, and I think I’ve shown I have the pace to run inside the top ten. The goal now is to do that on a regular basis and I think it’s something that we can do with ease based on how the car performed this year with Jake.

“If I can get onto the podium during the season then it would be fantastic, and the Jack Sears Trophy has to be my aim for the year as a whole. I was third in the standings this year, and I’m confident that I can build on that and fight for the title.”

Dan Kirby, Trade Price Cars Racing team owner, was pleased to confirm the signing of Thompson for the new season, with his team-mate set to be revealed early in the New Year.

“We’re delighted to confirm Bobby as our first driver for the 2020 season,” he said. “When we announced that we were going to join the BTCC grid twelve months ago, he was a driver who we tried to get onboard, and although it was close, we weren’t quite able to get the deal done.

“He is someone who we have kept a close eye on throughout the year and it’s fantastic that we’ve now been able to get a deal sorted to bring him onboard. He is is a driver who has shown real potential during his time in touring cars and I’m confident that when he gets behind the wheel of our Audi, he will be able to take a step forward and regularly fight inside the top ten.

“He certainly has the talent to make it onto the podium and I think that is a realistic goal for him to aim for. With Bobby as part of our new-look driver pairing for 2020, I think another good season lies ahead.”