Jason Plato “annoyed” by post-race penalty decisions

Jason Plato says he is “annoyed” that he was the only driver to be on the receiving end of a penalty handed out by British Touring Car Championship officials following contact in the final race of the weekend at Snetterton.

The Power Maxed Racing driver was handed an additional 15 seconds onto his race time following the action-packed encounter, with five seconds being added for contact with the Honda of Chris Smiley and then ten seconds for clashing with the Subaru of former team-mate Ash Sutton.

The pair would touch multiple times whilst dicing for the lead until Sutton was sent spinning off at the end of the Bentley Straight when the two cars went into Brundle three-wide with the Honda of eventual winner Rory Butcher.

Sutton was clearly angered by the outcome of the race after the chequered flag, telling ITV’s live coverage that Plato had been “bloody brainless” and the contact during the race had been “dangerous” and “stupidity”.

Plato for his part said he felt the racing had been a “good hard scrap” before news emerged of the penalties that would demote him down outside the points.

Power Maxed Racing responded to the steward’s decision on Monday, stating that it had taken the decision on the chin despite disagreeing with the penalty handed out – arguing that Sutton should also have faced sanctions for making contact with Plato’s Vauxhall during the on-track battle.

It was that fact that left former champion Plato most disappointed, with the 96-time race winner saying he felt a warning for both drivers would have been enough.

“I’m not upset about moves Ash made to get past me,” he wrote. “Rubbing IS racing. I’m annoyed he wasn’t sanctioned at all by officials like I was. What should have happened [is] we both should have had a slapped wrist and warning. Never the less a great race was delivered to the public.”