YORK racing driver James Thompson will have a bonus as he bids to catch up some lost ground in the Auto Trader British Touring Car Championship on Monday.

Thompson is some way behind the leading pack in the championship battle going into the ninth and tenth rounds at Oulton Park, Cheshire.

He missed four races because of concussion following a crash at Brands Hatch and then when he returned to action for the eighth round at Knockhill in Scotland he was disqualified after finishing second. His car failed a post-race technical check.

But weight penalties imposed on the winners in Scotland are likely to have a significant effect at Oulton Park - and Thompson's Honda Accord does not have a weight penalty.

Championship joint leaders Rickard Rydell and Alain Menu, both of Ford Team Mondeo, have 40kg and 30kg ballast respectively, while Anthony Reid, third in the championship in another Mondeo, carries 40kg.

"I think our car will be good again on the island circuit this year. In some ways, it's a shame I don't have any weight to carry as it underlines the lack of success I've had so far this season," said Thompson.

"I'm disappointed with the outcome of the last race but I'm confident of having a reasonable result at Oulton.

"Having missed four races and recording only two finishes from the first eight rounds I'm in a difficult position.

"I'm fired up to win races for Honda, but being 69 points behind in the championship I've got a lot of work to do."

Harrogate's John Bintcliffe is confident the problems have been sorted out with his Class B team cars.

Bintcliffe, a former BTCC race winner with Audi and now owner of a Class B team, decided to give Knockhill a miss in order to solve the engine power problems drivers Robert Collard and Marc Nordon have experienced with the Bintcliffe Sport Racing Nissan Primeras.

"I think we've got the engine sort now," he said. "Hopefully we'll be able to score some points at Oulton Park."