Agreed.. No matter how much of daddys money you've used, how lucky you've been, etc etc, you still need to be great to be a champion, which is what Button's proved this year.. And his other rivals (Raikkonen, Alonso and Hamilton, Schumacher, etc etc) to name a few over the years have shown too.
Sorry for double post, and yes, but I reckon Thompson deserves a decent works drive in WTCC if I'm honest, he's made some stellar drives in cars that haven't or wouldn't of been race winning machines in other good touring car drivers hands IMO
The car is definetly improving too, he got some points in Italy, and the rounds before, The Lada with (I think!) Ladygin behind the wheel was running in the top 10, except Larini shunted him in the last corner, of the last lap.