Jason Plato pips Gordon Shedden to win race two at Oulton Park

Team BMR’s Jason Plato pipped Honda Racing Team’s Gordon Shedden in a dramatic photo finish to win the second race at Oulton Park, taking the flag by just 0.093 seconds.

Plato’s win saw him extend his championship lead and become the first driver to win the first two races of a weekend this season, but he was made to work very hard for it by Shedden.

The pair circulated in close formation for the entire 15 laps, before Shedden drew alongside Plato exiting Deer Leap on the final lap, just failing to get his nose in front. To complete the set of firsts, Plato also becomes the first driver to win while carrying maximum ballast this season.

Behind the battling top two, Triple Eight Racing’s Andrew Jordan continued his consistent run in third, but there was drama behind on the final lap. West Surrey Racing’s Rob Collard rose to fourth with a demon start, but faded in the closing stages and fell into the clutches of team-mate Andy Priaulx.

The Guernseyman attempted a move around the outside into the hairpin and the pair made contact, putting Collard out on the spot with broken rear suspension on his BMW 125i. Priaulx managed to limp home in 15th in his damaged car.

The disaster for the WSR pair promoted Shedden’s team-mate Matt Neal to fourth, with the third BMW 125i of Sam Tordoff an excellent fifth after a forceful drive. Adam Morgan, Aron Smith, Colin Turkington, Jack Goff and Jeff Smith completed the top 10.

Morgan was drawn out of the hat to start the final race from pole, with Turkington missing out on any reward for an excellent drive from the back of the field after brake issues in the first race.

Up until the final stages, it was another relatively quiet race. Rob Austin Racing’s Hunter Abbott span off at Old Hall on lap three, with AmD Tuning’s Mike Bushell also having an off at Druids on lap six.

Power Maxed Racing’s Josh Cook pitted with a puncture on lap five, while Aron Smith, Morgan and Tordoff treated the huge crowds to the best battle of the race.

The Volkswagen driver had to work hard to keep Morgan behind, before the Mercedes ran wide at Old Hall and allowed Tordoff past on lap nine. The BMW driver, who had earlier passed the fading Honda Civic of Jeff Smith, then passed Smith in an excellent move at Lodge on lap 10.

Power Maxed Racing’s Dave Newsham was the only driver who wasn’t classified, as the Chevrolet man didn’t make it out of the pits for the installation lap.