New qualifying format gives Jason Plato pole position for race two

The new-for-2015 qualifying format has given Jason Plato pole position for the second race at Brands Hatch in his Team BMR Volkswagen CC.

The 2001 and 2010 champion set the fastest lap in the first race, and with the fastest laps from race one now setting the grid for race two as opposed to the previous format, where the grid was set by the results of race one, this means Plato will start from pole after setting the best lap of 48.756 in race one, which was just 0.033 seconds faster than the best lap set by West Surrey Racing’s Andy Priaulx, which was set on soft tyres.

After finishing third in the race, Plato will carry the third highest penalty ballast of 57kg in race two, while fellow front-row sitter Andy Priaulx will carry just 15kg after finishing ninth.

Rob Collard will carry 70kg on his BMW 125i after winning the race, but will line-up fourth on the grid for race two, while Aron Smith, who finished second in race one, will carry 66kg of ballast and start sixth on the grid.

Grid for Race 2