Jason Plato completes BTC Racing trio for final BTCC campaign

Jason Plato will look to move closer to the landmark of 100 BTCC wins after confirming his place on the grid with BTC Racing for 2022, in what is set to be his final season in the series.

The two-time champion will partner Josh Cook and Jade Edwards in BTC’s three-car line-up after making the move over from Power Maxed Racing, where he has raced for the past two seasons.

Plato has more BTCC wins to his name and has scored more points than any other driver in series history, and goes into his 23rd season in the series three victories shy of reaching his century.

“I have been able to watch BTC Racing from a distance, and I have seen the team go from strength to strength,” Plato, who tested the Honda Civic Type R at Donington Park last week, said. “I raced against Josh Cook in previous seasons, and I know where the car is good and where it is not. The Honda has been good for many, many years in specific areas on tracks. It really has its strengths.

“I was very impressed on my first day, with what I saw from the team. There are a lot of very clever people there – everybody knows their role; everyone is bringing something to the engineering table we have.

“I have been fortunate enough, for the majority of my career, to have driven for world-class teams and worked with world-class people and honestly, after one afternoon with BTC Racing I was genuinely impressed. I am really looking forward to it and there is a definite ambition and motivation there.”

Having first raced in the series back in 1997, Plato has started more than 600 races but is set to bow out when the season draws to a close to explore other opportunities.

“I think I can win races and I still think I can win the championship if everything goes the right way,” he said. “I want to sign off while I am in a good place. I would rather walk away from the series having won a load of races this year, been in the fight for the championship and having been a contender. That would make me happy and be an excellent way to sign off from the championship.”

Team owner Steve Dudman said he was thrilled to bring Plato onboard.

“We’re delighted to welcome Jason to BTC Racing,” he said. “Jason has shown what a world-class driver he is throughout his career, and I have always admired him. I believe that in the BTC Honda Civic, he can reach his 100th win milestone and everyone at BTC Racing wants to share it with him.

“Jason is hugely capable of winning races and I’m sure he will be in the championship mix from the start. With his level of experience, technical understanding and natural speed, it’ll deliver results – JP has his mojo back for sure.

“I’m hugely excited to see what can be achieved this year with Jason at BTC Racing and we’re looking forward to working with him.”

Although Power Maxed Racing, Speedworks and Team HARD have still to confirm their full driver line-ups, all three seats have now been filled which means no place on the 2022 grid for Senna Proctor, who took tenth in the standings with BTC last year.