Photo: PSP Images

Jason Plato takes pole as Honda struggle

Jason Plato has taken his fourth pole position of the season at Brands Hatch, with the two Hondas starting on row three for Round 25 of the British Touring Car Championship.

The Chevrolet driver, who is 24 points adrift of the two Honda drivers in the standings set a lap record for a normally aspirated car in the BTCC at the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit of 1:31.874.

Plato did receive a warning on his quickest lap for exceeding the track limits at Paddock Hill bend, but drivers have been given an allowance of three warnings before any times are deleted by the steward.

The session was twice interrupted, first for Chris James’ Team ES Racing Chevrolet Lacetti, which lost a front-right wheel on his first flying lap and never set a time.

The second interruption was for Frank Wrathall’s Dynojet Racing Toyota Avensis, which crashed at Clearways on his second flying run.

Andrew Jordan took second in the Eurotech Racing Vauxhall Vectra, with James Nash saving his best lap until the last possible moment to go third.

Alex MacDowall in the second RML-run Chevrolet Cruze qualified fourth with the two Honda Civics of Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal on row three.

Dan Welch was the fastest of the five NGTC-specification cars in 11th in his Proton Gen-2, with Frank Wrathall’s single run good enough for 14th.

The first race tomorrow takes place at 11:30 BST.