CHILTON TAUNTS BTCC RIVAL PLATO
It's happened already - even before the Dunlop MSA British
Touring Car Championship has started at Brands Hatch this
coming weekend, two of the expected title front-runners Tom
Chilton (Reigate) and Jason Plato (Oxford) have become embroiled
in a war of words.
In yesterday's Sunday Mirror newspaper, Chilton said of Plato:
"It's all a bit too much for him now. He might just be
losing it a bit."
And 21-year-old rising star Chilton hs since told btcc.net:
"On the test day at Brands Hatch last week, Plato was
giving it everything and when he got out of the car was pouring
with sweat. He wasn't as fast as James Thompson who's come
into the SEAT team and is putting Plato in his place.
"Plato could beat Thommo by knocking him out of the
way like he does, but he won't be allowed to because they're
team-mates now. The only way he'll beat Thompson is with team
orders."
This week, Chilton has been in Barbados, topping up his tan
but also relaxing ahead of Brands's big BTCC date and keeping
up his fitness regime with 90-minute swimming sessions along
the coastline.
Chilton is vying to become the youngest BTCC Champion ever
having joined one of the best teams on the grid, Vauxhall's
multiple title-winning VX Racing outfit, for 2006. Last week,
he was second only to reigning Champion Matt Neal's Team Halfords
Honda in testing around Brands Hatch and believes he's a strong
contender for victory in this coming weekend's opening three
rounds.
He added: "I'm really pleased with the Astra. I almost
matched Neal's time and I was able to bang in consistently
fast laps over a long run. That bodes well for our race pace,
although I'd say we've both got a bit more in reserve.
"I feel comfortable racing anyone. I've been racing
most of them for five years now so know all their tricks.
I think Neal, Thompson and I are clean and Plato and Fabrizio
(Giovanardi, Chilton's new Vauxhall team-mate) will be a bit
physical. Rob Collard and Colin Turkington will also be quick
in the MGs. Turkington will take a few meetings to get going,
though. It's just how he seems to be.
"I still think Matt's going to be the one to beat. I
was hanging it all out in the test, but his car still seems
like it's on rails. Qualifying on Saturday will be very interesting
to watch and the racing on Sunday is going to be really exciting
for the crowds, because there are more cars and there are
more people on the front-running pace."
Crowds at Brands Hatch on 9 April will get to see the BTCC
in race action three times, plus another eight supporting
races from high-profile championships put on by top car manufacturers
BMW, Porsche, Renault and SEAT. The pit lane will also be
opened free of charge to spectators and families to meet the
BTCC drivers and grab give-aways during a special autograph
session.
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