Jason Plato and Matt Neal top the podium in Kent as British Touring Car Championship kicks off with Easter spectacular at Brands Hatch

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Published: 2 April 2013

Jason Plato leads this season’s British Touring Car Championship after taking two wins from the opening three races of the season on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit in the quaint countryside of Kent.

Matt Neal led home Honda Yuasa Racing team-mate Gordon Shedden in the final race to ensure the champion squad ended a challenging weekend on a high.

Jason Plato wins Brands Hatch British Touring Car Championship BTCC

Jason Plato wins Brands Hatch British Touring Car Championship BTCC

Thumbs up as Jason Plato receives the perfect Easter present after winning race one at Brands Hatch.

Fellow Honda Civic driver Andrew Jordan is second in the standings after securing a pole position, two second places and a sixth from the weekend.

45-year-old Plato, known for his sparkling career as a television presenter on Fifth Gear and Misson Implausible, won the opening race of the year after coming out on top of a pulsating battle with Jordan. Jason Plato said: “I am delighted with the first two wins. Last year was a sign of what might have come for us at MG – but we’ve changed the balance considerably now so it’s much easier to drive. It has been a good weekend.”

Rob Austin had led the early running in his Audi A4 before both Plato and Jordan slipped by. A closing Jordan made one final lunge on Plato in an attempt to claim victory, and the rather optimistic move ended in contact with both cars sliding off the track.

Jason Plato and Rob Austin battle for the win Brands Hatch Kent Racing British Touring Car Championship

Jason Plato and Rob Austin battle for the win Brands Hatch Kent Racing British Touring Car Championship

Jason Plato and Worcestershire''s 32-year-old Rob Austin battled for victory. Plato''s experience proved too much for Austin, who eventually finished the first race in third.

Incredibly, both scrabbled their way back onto the circuit before third placed Austin had arrived, and Plato hung on to win.

Race two was a much more commanding affair as Plato took a lights-to-flag victory – the 76th win of his record breaking BTCC career. Jordan again claimed second, ahead of the charging Honda of reigning champion Shedden.

The Scotsman was later excluded, however, after his car failed ride height regulations during post-race scrutineering, handing Jeff Smith a popular podium for Pirtek Racing.

Triple-champion Neal then went on to secure his first win of the new campaign, leading home team-mate Shedden by an incredibly close 0.083s. Neal took the lead early on after pole-sitter Mat Jackson slid wide in his Ford Focus at Druids.

Matt Neal wins Race Three 3 Brands Hatch Kent Motor Racing British Touring Car Championship BTCC

Matt Neal wins Race Three 3 Brands Hatch Kent Motor Racing British Touring Car Championship BTCC

Matt Neal, triple BTCC Champion, raced to victory in the third race at Brands Hatch.

Matt Neal said: “I’m really chuffed with the one-two after what’s been a tough weekend, but they always say to finish on a high. It was a nice way to finish the race in Honda formation – it reminded me of the last race of last season.”

The Honda driver went on to take charge of the race, before fending off a late challenge from Shedden. A great drive from 23-year-old Sam Tordoff saw him score his maiden BTCC podium for the MG KX Momentum team, which along with Plato’s healthy points score means the squad is in charge of the Manufacturer standings.

The final race also included a huge accident when Dave Newsham spun his Toyota Avensis on the dip between Paddock and the run up to Druids. Austin attempted to take avoiding action but clipped Newsham’s stricken car on his way through.

Andrew Jordan podium second Brands Hatch BTCC British Touring Car Championship

Andrew Jordan podium second Brands Hatch BTCC British Touring Car Championship

Andrew Jordan''s remarkable consistency saw him finish runner-up to Jason Plato in both his victories and sixth in the third Easter weekend race. In his sixth season in the BTCC, it is Jordan''s best ever start.

Austin’s Audi ran on to the grass at high speed before making heavy impact with the barrier on the inside of the circuit. Both drivers emerged unscathed from the dramatic incident.

The Jack Sears Trophy – for S2000 cars – is led by Liam Griffin after the Addison Lee Motorbase driver claimed two wins in his Ford Focus. James Kaye was the inaugural victor having won the first race in the AmDTuning.com VW Golf.

It was Jason Plato who left Kent with the biggest smile as the double-champion holds a nine-point lead in the standings over Jordan. Tordoff’s maiden podium and two top-six finishes mean he lies third in the championship, followed by the consistent Smith and race three victor Neal. The BTCC battle is rejoined at Donington Park in Leicestershire on 20-21 April.