Imagine David Beckham scoring a century against the Aussies in the Lord's Test or Tiger Woods winning the men's singles at Wimbledon.

True, all involve balls - and to some extent golden ones - yet the above scenario is highly unlikely, nay impossible.

But one sportsman from the region is plying his trade in two separate disciplines and becoming rapidly successful at both of them.

James Thompson is the reigning Green Flag British Touring Car Champion and currently lies 17 points off the lead of this season's title chase in his Vauxhall Astra, following from a pair of runner-up placings at the last round at Croft.

But when he's not charging round the circuits of the UK in his 275bhp race car, Thompson spends whatever spare time he has behind the wheel of another car - his ex-Tommi Makinen Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.5 rally car.

And it's not just for play either, as he's been officially contracted by the Japanese factory's UK operation to contest the prestigious Pirelli British Rally Championship, where he lies in fifth place after three rounds.

So which does the 29-year-old, originally from Strensall near York but now in the process of renovating a Victorian property in Harrogate to supplement his Notting Hill home, prefer?

He said: "Rallying is the sport that is closest to my heart as I was brought up around rally cars, what with my father and many of his friends competing.

"It was something I always wanted to do and it's not difficult combining the two.

"Maybe if I'd not been from a rallying family it may have been different, but despite my lack of experience, I'm really enjoying things," added Thompson, who only took up the sport last year.

Despite setting three fastest stage times on the recent Jim Clark Memorial Rally, it's the day job in the form of the BTCC that pays the bills. But with such a passion for rallying, it's hard to understand why he got involved in circuit racing 12 years ago.

"At the time I set out in my motorsport career rallying was in a sorry state with very little professional support and it was a case of making the decision as to whether it was to become a hobby or a profession,'' he admitted.

"The chances of making a living out of circuit racing were significantly higher than if I'd pursued the rallying option so it was a commercial decision.

"I'm very happy to be racing on the circuits and I really enjoy it, but deep down, I always hankered after being in the forests."

Nowadays, professional rally opportunities while not in abundance are not as scarce as in recent times and Thompson admits that the temptation appeals.

"If a well-paid rally drive came up, of course I'd consider it and I would be very tempted,'' he said.

"I really do love the circuit racing and I feel very proud to be British Touring Car Champion as it's the most exalted title in the country and one of the best in Europe but I'd have to be stupid to walk away from a very successful career.

"What I'm really setting my sights on is being the first driver to win both championships and then maybe we could look at doing some more world championship rounds.

"If I'm being honest, at my age I've missed the opportunity of big-time rallying due to going circuit racing."

Thompson goes in search of more BTCC points at Snetterton in three weeks' time, but before then he will concentrate on the next round of the PRBC whereby he and co-driver 'Plug' Pulleyn from Easingwold travel to the Isle of Man to contest the Manx International Rally next weekend.