AUGUST 10, 2009

Herbert to move to BTCC

Johnny Herbert is expected to be named as the new driver of the Team Dynamics Honda Civic in the British Touring Car Championship. The 45-year-old, who won three Grands Prix with the Benetton and Stewart teams and took victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours back in 1991, has been out of work since the demise of the UAE-based Speed Car series.

Herbert is in line to replace James Thompson at Steve Neal's Team Dynamics. The Pershore-based team, which won the BTCC title in 2005 and 2006 with Matt Neal, has run Thompson and gentleman driver David Pinkney this year in Honda Civics. Thompson has won three races for the team but in July was signed by Lada to lead its World Touring Car Championship programme. He also has commitments to race for Team Vodafone in the two Australian V8 Series endurance races at Phillip Island on September 13 and Bathurst on October 11 and for Hartmann Honda in the Danish Touring Car Championship. It was thus decided that it is best to hand over the BTCC drive to someone else and Herbert recently tested for Team Dynamics at Rockingham. He also drove the car for the team at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

If all goes to plan, therefore, BTCC fans will get a chance to see Herbert in action at Silverstone at the end of August, Rockingham on September 20 and Brands Hatch on October 4.

Herbert is no doubt hoping that this will lead to a fulltime drive in 2010.