JAMES Thompson has vowed to take Honda to glory in this year's British Touring Car Championship.

The York driver, retained by the Japanese manufacturer for the second year, announced his intentions at the unveiling of the new super-fast Honda Accord, built especially for the 26-round championship which opens at Thruxton on Easter Monday.

Thompson made his vow only hours after returning from intensive driving trials in Spain and Italy.

"The new car is brilliant. It's lighter, more refined and most definitely faster," he said.

Thomspon will be partnered this season by the flying Dutchman, Peter Kox, experiencing for the first time the British championships.

Thompson, at 23 the youngest driver in the championships, also intends to build on his successes of last season, when he finished fifth in the driver's championships with one victory and seven podium finishes.

"Honda will hit the ground running when the season opens, and I intend to show everyone a clean pair of heels," he said.

The new Accord is based on the 2.0I LS saloon and has been developed and engineered by UK-based Prodrive, whose pedigree in motorsport is now acclaimed world-wide.

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