Jason Plato delighted with “really great weekend”

Triple Eight’s Jason Plato leaves Donington Park a happy man, tied at the top of the BTCC standings with Andrew Jordan and confident of a strong weekend at Thruxton in a fortnight’s time.

The 2001 and 2010 champion took pole on Saturday, and followed it up with a win in the first race, second in the second and sixth in the finale.

It leaves him on 87 points, and means both he and Jordan will carry 36kg of ballast into the weekend in Hampshire.

And it could barely be tighter at the top, with Honda Racing Team’s Gordon Shedden just a point back in third, and West Surrey Racing’s Colin Turkington two points behind Shedden.

“It’s been a really great weekend for us. A one-two in the first two races for the team, and a win for me,” said Plato to TouringCarTimes.

“I made a little mistake off the start line for race two. I had a great initial launch and then – I don’t know how I did it – I had a senior moment and caught the pit lane speed limit button. That let Sam [Tordoff] through.

“Race three is not a mystery, we were just not expecting that result. But I know exactly what it is, and I’m not concerned about it. We just didn’t quite dial the car in enough for the soft tyre in free practice one and two, and then in qualifying you’re just doing your qualifying runs.

“I am very positive going to Thruxton, and looking to get on the podium at least a couple of times there too. I think Thruxton we will be on the button, and I’m confident it will be a great weekend for us.”