Jason Plato wins the third race at Thruxton

Jason Plato has won the final race of the day at Thruxton from second on the grid from Mat Jackson, whilst Tom Boardman takes his first BTCC podium.

The Special Tuning Racing SEAT of Boardman had started from pole after being drawn in the race two reversed grid, but was beaten at the start by Jason Plato in the Silverline Chevrolet, whilst team-mate Alex MacDowall went backwards, dropping to fifth on the first lap.

Tom Chilton crashed out at Allard on lap six, holding up the Eurotech Vauxhall of Andrew Jordan in the process. Jordan dropped behind the two Hondas of Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal as result whilst the safety car was called to recover Chilton’s stranded Focus for two laps.

MacDowall would lose further ground, overtaken by the two Hondas as well Andrew Jordan’s Vectra on lap 10, and would go on to finish eighth.

Matt Neal now moves into the championship lead with 90 points, with the Motorbase Performance Ford of Jackson up to second place, 12 points down on the Honda driver, with James Nash dropping to third in the points.

Gordon Shedden’s strong weekend sees him up to fifth in the championship, with Jason Plato sixth and will go ballast free to Oulton Park next month.