Jason Plato ‘over the moon after taking two wins’ at BTCC opener but is determined to better racing

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Published: 2 April 2013

Jason Plato Brands Hatch Champagne Jason Plato Brands Hatch Champagne Jason Plato Brands Hatch Champagne

With the sun shining over Kent, the spotlight was on Brands Hatch this Easter weekend.

It was crowd favourite Jason Plato who took only four laps to hit the front of the first race of the weekend to secure his 75th career victory in the series.

He repeated the performance in race two when he led from start to finish. He topped it off with fifth position in the reversed grid finale and now sits on top of the title points race.

But if viewers were impressed with Jason Plato’s performance at Brands Hatch this Easter weekend, they can look forward to a season full of even more exciting driving.

Jason Plato has proven himself to be quite a gentleman, with his brilliant support of teammates over the years – praising Sam Tordoff for his first podium in his third race this season and sixth ever British Touring Car Championship race, having competed at Brands Hatch in 2010.

“After taking two wins and a fifth place I am over the moon,” he said. “It really validates all the hard work we have put in to this programme and I can only see things getting better from here.

“Perhaps the most pleasing aspect for me – aside from Sam’s sensational performance – was the way we dominated the second race of the weekend when we had 45kgs of success ballast on board. That’s something we have worked hard on in testing and it has reaped rewards. That is going to be a huge asset this season.”

Sam Tordoff First Podium. Sam Tordoff Debut Podium. Brands Hatch. Sam Tordoff First Podium. Sam Tordoff Debut Podium. Brands Hatch.

Sam Tordoff First Podium. Sam Tordoff Debut Podium. Brands Hatch. Sam Tordoff First Podium. Sam Tordoff Debut Podium. Brands Hatch.

Sam Tordoff could earn the ''Rookie of the Year'' title if he repeats his performance over the BTCC season.

Tordoff was thrilled after his weekend’s work, and he says that he has now readjusted his ambitions for the remainder of the year after seeing how he stacked up against the opposition.

“The car was great and Jason proved that in the first two races, but I am just getting more and more comfortable every time I drive it,” said the KX Akademy man. “We would have settled for some top ten finishes and that would have been a good solid start for us. Now, though, we have scored three top five finishes and we have raised the bar. The car is good and I have settled in to the team really well. We have got to be going to Donington Park in three weeks’ time looking for podiums at least.”

Team principal Ian Harrison was delighted and he says that the results were down to hard work during the pre-season build up.

Harrison said: “It has been a very good start and it is particularly pleasing to have two frontrunning cars. I couldn’t have asked any more from Sam Tordoff. He was just completely in control and looks like an old pro when he was doing some of these moves on track.

“Jason’s first two races were fantastic. We took a bit of a shot in the dark with the new option tyres in the third race and we have some work to do there, but overall you can’t be upset. We have worked hard and to be able to bring home these results straight away is a validation of the hard work that everyone’s put in to this programme.”

The next meeting of the 2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship takes place at Donington Park on Sunday, April 21.