For me, Team Dynamics is the most intriguing team in the BTCC at the moment, and today’s news that Gordon Shedden is being replaced by James Thompson only adds to it.

It started over the winter. Their title sponsorship from Halfords was not renewed. The Garmin sponsorship was retained, but not beefed up to full title sponsorship. This must have cost the team financially.

The team also signed Dave Pinkey as one of its drivers for 2009. A clue is perhaps that Wikipedia describes him first as a businessman, and secondly as a driver. In the past Pinkney has been able to put together the finances to complete in the BTCC independently, so I think it’s fair to say that part of the reason he got the Team Dynamics drive is the sponsorship he can bring. For example from Car Protect, part of Motorway Direct, which by the look of it is a Pinkney family business; and The Trading Floor, which is at least partly owned by Motorway Direct.

Of course it’s very common for drivers to bring sponsors with them. Indeed, it seems to be the reason that Tom Onslow-Cole was dropped, and Andrew Jordan moved up to a full works Vauxhall drive. The difference is that VX Racing chose one promising youngster over another, whereas Team Dynamics chose a driver in his fifties who scored a total of five points in his last BTCC season. I don’t mean to be rude, but he was a surprising choice, and might point to uneasy times at Team Dynamics.

So why is James Thompson replacing Gordon Shedden? Team Principal Steve Neal: “This change in our driver line-up has come about due to contractual commitments.” What does that mean?! Another key point is that the team is hoping to secure sponsorship to run a third car for Shedden, “sooner rather than later”.

I can’t imagine that Shedden’s contract has anything to do with this – indeed the team may have had to break its contract with him. So did the team have a contract with Thompson before the season, but only from the second round, to give them time to obtain sufficient sponsorship for three cars? That doesn’t sound quite right. Could it be something in a contract with a sponsor?

I don’t know, of course. But won’t be surprised if there’s a new sponsor on the Team Dynamics Honda Civic at Thruxton in a couple of weeks.