Alex MacDowall will help Jason Plato if asked

Alex MacDowall starts fourth for Round 25 of the BTCC at Brands Hatch today, ahead of the two Honda Civics of Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden, and says he will back up Plato if asked to during today’s races.

The 20-year-old Chevrolet driver could play a pivotal role in the championship as Plato’s only team-mate, as the reigning champion battles to keep his crown from the Honda pairing of Neal and Shedden.

“Certainly Jason was quick,” said MacDowall on Plato’s pole position lap.

“To do it with the weight on as well is pretty impressive. We went a slightly different route, a looser car which hurt us at Graham Hill and a few other areas where he was a lot stronger, so I think that’s where we were losing our time.”

“It definitely will be a good set-up for the race, but for qualifying it wasn’t bang on where it needed to be which was where he was.”

MacDowall will start behind the two Vauxhall Vectras of Andrew Jordan (Eurotech Racing) & James Nash (Triple Eight), with championship contenders Gordon Shedden, Matt Neal and the Motorbase Ford of Mat Jackson starting behind him for Round 25.

On whether MacDowall will be pulled into a tactical game to help Plato, he responded:

“If I get asked to do it I will do, but I definitely want to try and get second. I think the Vectras are just going to eat their front tyres, so I’ll be looking at a track map to see where I can overtake.”

“It’s Nash and Jordan in front, I’m pretty confident I can hold the Hondas off. I think I should be able to get past one of the Vectras, but Jason’s going to be on it. He’ll be off, Nash and Jordan won’t be able to keep up with him.”