James Peter Kaye (born 18 February 1964 in Harrogate, North Yorkshire) is a British auto racing driver. He has been a stalwart competitor of Hondas in various championships since 1995, and has had 2 lengthy spells in the BTCC. He won the BTCC independents' championship in 1992 and 1994.
After racing in the British National Production Saloon Championship with several championship in the late 80s and early 90s, Kaye entered the BTCC as an independent in 1992, winning the independent title in his Toyota, and again in 1994. In 1993, he raced a semi-works Toyota for the Park Lane Racing team, ineligible for the Total Cup for Independents. In 1995, he was hired by Honda for their BTCC programme, racing there for 2 seasons.
Kaye had an assortment of sports car drives for Honda from 1997âÂÂ1999, returning to touring cars in the National Saloon Championship in 2000. The same cars were eligible for the newly created Class B of the BTCC that year, and Kaye was runner up in a Honda Accord. This was renamed the Production Class for 2001, and Kaye again finished second, before winning the Production Class title in 2002 for Synchro Motorsport, a team of Honda employees working in their spare time at the Honda factory in Swindon.
The team moved up to the Touring class of the BTCC for 2003, defined as an Independent team as they had no financial or technical backing, James classified as Independent runner-up and 14th overall. Remaining with Synchro, Kaye was 11th overall in 2004 and 2005. He took his first series podium at Oulton Park in 2006 after 14 years of trying. For 2007, the team pulled out, leaving Kaye without a drive.
Kaye returned to the BTCC for the 2013 season, driving the AmD Tuning.com Volkswagen Golf in the Jack Sears Trophy.
For the final round of the 2018 Dunlop Endurance Championship, Kaye raced with Matt Le Breton in an Audi RS3 TCR, finishing 11th in race one and 4th in race two.
In 2023, Kaye returned to racing in the final meeting of the inaugural Racing Hondas Championship at Snetterton. Driving a Honda Civic of the same model he had driven in the BTCC from 2002 to 2006 in Class C, he won his class in Race 1 and came third in Race 2. This placed him equal 4th overall in the championship in his class.
Kaye's father Peter Kaye was a Hillclimb/Sprint driver, which was a great influence on James growing up. James is the oldest of 5 children, and his younger brother Richard Kaye, has also raced professionally. James is married and has five children.
() Races in bold indicate pole position (1 point awarded â 1996âÂÂ2002 all races, 2003âÂÂpresent just in first race, 1987âÂÂ1989 and 2000âÂÂ2003 in class) Races in italics indicate fastest lap (1 point awarded â 1987âÂÂ1989 and 2000âÂÂpresent all races, 1987âÂÂ1989 and 2000âÂÂ2003 in class) <nowiki>*</nowiki> signifies that driver lead race for at least one lap (1 point awarded â 2001 just in feature races, 2003âÂÂpresent all races, 2001 for leading in class)
â Event with 2 races staged for the different classes. â¡ Kaye won in class but was awarded no points due to less than 3 class cars starting the race.
() (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
() (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Super Touring race
() (Races in bold indicate pole position in class â 1 point awarded just in first race; races in italics indicate fastest lap in class â 1 point awarded all races;-
() (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
<sup>â </sup> As Kaye was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points.