Photo: WTCC Media

Jason Plato confirmed to drive Chevrolet

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It seems like the Jason Plato rumor was not an aprils fools joke. The Brit has been confirmed to enter the British Touring Car Championship premiere in an 2008 specification Chevrolet Lacetti.
“This was too good an opportunity to miss. The BTCC has played such an important role in my life, so being at Brands Hatch is hugely important to me personally,” said Plato.

Plato’s car is going to be run by the official World Touring Car Championship team Ray Mallock Limited.

It is so far not confirmed if the deal includes a full season of the BTCC 2009.

“At the moment, we don’t know how long we’ll be around. We’re trying tremendously hard behind the scenes to put together a full programme for 2009. Right now, I’m just very excited to be teaming back up with some good friends and respected colleagues at RML,” said Plato.

While Plato has been off driving, missing all the pre season tests, since the end of the 2008 BTCC season, he is not going to settle with running at the back of the field.

“We are so going into this as the underdogs, without a shadow of a doubt. But I’ve got great confidence in RML’s ability to engineer a racing car and I’ve got to draw upon all my experience because I’m probably going to be a bit rusty,” said Plato.

RML team boss Ray Mallock is excited over the signed deal with Plato and draws similarities to the debut of the all new Brawn GP Formula One team.

“If we can get within 20 per cent of what Brawn GP did in Melbourne then we’ll be doing well. We’re certainly not there to make up the numbers,” said Mallock.

While the main focus for RML is on the WTCC with the new Cruze model, there is time for a BTCC program.

“There’s a convenient gap in the WTCC calendar, meaning some of our personnel were available for Brands and we have some 2008 kit still lying around so it would have been a shame not to put it to good use at Brands Hatch.

“Plus, Jason is very well known at RML – it’s a perfect combination and we’re all delighted even if it is a last minute entry that we can be on the BTCC grid together again.”