ILKLEY racing driver James Hanson, 24, will drive Volvo's new S60 Super 2000 car in this year's European Touring Car Championship (ETCC).

Volvo will be running two cars in 2002, driven by the experienced Swede and former British Touring Car champion, Rickard Rydell, and rising star Hanson.

James competed in the ETCC Super Production series last year in an Edenbridge-prepared BMW. Despite Rydell's relative seniority and experience, both drivers will have equal equipment and status in the team.

James started his racing career in 1989 at the age of 12, driving karts.

In this first year he finished ninth in the British Cadet Kart Championship. It wasn't until 1997 though after finishing his formal education that James focussed on a professional career as a full time racing driver.

After two years as an official factory driver, competing at the highest levels of kart racing around the world, he made the step up into cars.

In 1998 he raced in the Vauxhall Junior Championship and progressively honed his skills during the year, becoming very competitive towards the end of his first season.

The following year his talent and additional experience began to tell as he won races at Silverstone, Snetterton and Mondello Park in the UK in the Formula Vauxhall and Formula EFDA Championships as well as three wins in the North American Formula Ford 2000 series.

His 1999 season was rounded off with a pole position in the Formula Asia 2000 Macau Grand Prix.

In 2000, James raced solely in the US Formula Ford 2000 Pro Series, winning one race at Road Atlanta and finishing on the podium five times. James again finished off the season at Macau with a fourth place and setting a new lap record.

The year 2001 was James's first season in touring cars. He drove an Edenbridge-prepared Super Production BMW in the European Touring Car Championship.

This was very much a learning year and one in which he took the opportunity to learn the circuits being used in the series.

His pace increased over the course of the championship with his best result, a third place at Jarama in Spain, coming towards the end of the season.

Career highlights include: 2001 European Touring Car Championship 10th overall, best place third.

2000 US Formula Ford 2000 Pro Series - 4th. Winner - one race, Greg Moore Rookie of the Year; Formula Asia 2000 Macau Grand Prix - 4th and lap record.

1999 US Formula Ford 2000 Winner - three races; Formula Vauxhall Championship Winner - one race; Formula EFDA (Opel Lotus) Winner - two races; Formula Asia 2000 Macau Grand Prix Pole position.

1998 Formula Vauxhall Junior Championship - 7th.

1997 North American Kart Championship - 7th; European Kart Championship

World Kart Championships; Grand Prix of Asia.

1996 European Kart Championship - 3rd; British Kart Championship; Belgian Kart Championship.

1994-95 British Kart Championship.

1989 British Cadet Kart Championship - 9th.