Thommo promises to fight to the finish

Thompson lies second in the points to Vauxhall team-mate Yvan Muller with four rounds, over two weekends, to go. The defecit lies at 25 points with 66 left to play for over the final two meetings.

"It's still possible that I could do it," said Thompson, who had appeared to concede the title immediately after finishing 10th in the second Brands race. "I'm just hoping for a better result than I had at Brands. The end of the season is in sight and I'll be battling all the way to the close."

Thompson likes the Donington circuit. "It's where I started my racing career," he explained, "and it is a great circuit; fast and flowing with good overtaking. It holds a lot of good memories for me."

He will also have a small advantage in that Muller will be unable to work on his car's set-up during tomorrow's free practice sessions, as he will still be suspended as a result of his post race dust-up with Anthony Reid at Brands.