PLATO APPROACHING BTCC DOUBLE CENTURY
Jason Plato has ranked his first meeting for SEAT in the
Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship as one of his
top three favourite BTCC memories as he prepares to contest
his 200th race in the series at the Croft circuit in North
Yorkshire on 16 July.
Plato says winning for SEAT on the manufacturer's first appearance
in the BTCC at Thruxton in April 2004 was just as good qualifying
on pole position for his race debut in 1997 or being crowned
champion in 2001.
Plato won at Thruxton by holding off bitter enemy and former
team-mate Yvan Muller's Vauxhall for the whole race.
"Everything was against us," said Plato. "Our
car was only a few weeks old, I'd been out for a few years
and we still won. It was a great way to start my racing career
with SEAT and a great reward for everyone involved in making
it happen. It was a really sweet victory, particularly as
a lot of pundits had been saying ‘he's too old, he's
been away too long...'"
Plato's two other great moments, he says, were qualifying
on pole position for his BTCC debut with Frank Williams' Williams-Renault
team at Donington Park in 1997 and also winning the title
with Vauxhall in 2001 - even if it led to him quitting the
championship for two years.
"Getting pole on my debut was special - getting it by
beating my team-mate Alain Menu, who was and still is one
of the very best touring car drivers in the world, was something
else," added Plato. "That qualifying session was
a massive fight internally. But then I did it again for the
second race and again for my third race at the next meeting.
"I'm pretty sure those performances almost bought me
my place in touring cars because it had been a big risk for
Frank to sign me. He could have gone with a known superstar
but he took a gamble on me and I rewarded him.
"Then there was winning the title against Yvan at Vauxhall.
It was a massive high but also a major low because I couldn't
defend my title the following year due to politics behind
the scenes. There were some horrible things that went on.
It was a great year for me but it was very difficult at times.
Perhaps some day it'll all come out in a book."
More than nine years after making his BTCC debut, Plato,
currently third in this year's standings with SEAT, believes
the competition at the front of the championship remains super-intense
and of the highest quality.
The 38-year-old, who's also carved out a successful career
as a television presenter, said: "The level at the sharp
end of the stick is still very strong. It is tremendously
difficult to win in the BTCC, but I love a competitive situation.
"If I'm honest, I don't feel anything about reaching
200 races. It's a nice feeling because I've been about a bit
now and can say I'm a bona fide member of that elite club
of professional drivers who've enjoyed longevity in their
career.
"I've also met some great people, drivers, team members,
engineers and so on and the BTCC has been a great place to
be. I've been a very lucky lad to have had the opportunities
I've had and be part of the scene.
"If I'd got 200 wins it'd mean more. But I know my win
ratio is pretty good and no doubt I'll get a groovy cake..."
Spectators at Croft this coming Sunday will be able to meet
Plato and his fellow BTCC drivers during an open Pit Lane
Walkabout session and there will be a further seven races
from supporting championships put on by high-profile manufacturers
BMW, Porsche, Renault and SEAT. Admission for children under
16 is FREE.
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