PLATO WISHES NEAL GOOD LUCK
Jason Plato has wished Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship
rival Matt Neal good luck in their title fight because he
says he wants to beat him "fair and square on the track".
As he prepares for battle at his home circuit of Croft this
coming Sunday (16 July), Newcastle-raised Plato trails current
series leader Neal, the reigning champion, by 45 points. Plato
lies third overall, with Team RAC's rising Northern Irish
star Colin Turkington between him and Neal.
SEAT driver Plato, the BTCC title-winner in 2001, said: "I
don't want Matt to have bad luck - nothing would give me more
satisfaction than turning the tables on Matt without him running
into problems.
"I'd like to do it by chipping away and clawing the
points back. Matt's got everything to lose and I've got everything
to gain."
Plato also highlighted Neal's recent incredible finishing
record - he's scored in 41 of the last 42 BTCC races - as
proof of how fortunes can change. Neal's only retirement this
year was a high-speed crash when he was nudged off the track.
Plato has retired his car three times and lost points in two
other races with time penalties for infringing the rules.
"It's not that many years ago that Matt Neal had a reputation
for having the worst luck in the world, but things change
in this game," said Plato. "I don't want him to
have that again, though, because I want to win this fair and
square by beating him on the track in a straight fight.
"And I also don't want it decided by stupid bickering
in the stewards' office.
"It would be brilliant for the fans if we do start pegging
him back and towards the end of the season me, Matt and Colin
are in a proper three-way fight.
"If at end of day I wasn't successful then at least
I'd have the satisfaction that we had at least put up a fight."
Plato has also sounded a rallying call to his SEAT Sport
UK crew to raise its game if it is to catch Neal and his Team
Halfords squad in the season's second half.
He added: "I still think Matt has the fastest car on
the track, but I also believe we have the right team, the
right car and the right drivers in me, James Thompson and
Darren Turner to make it all come together for us.
"SEAT Sport UK still hasn't hit the sweet spot as an
organisation and we've all made a couple of genuine honest
mistakes that have cost us. We just need to raise our game
and make sure our development parts from Spain arrive quicker
so we can get after the championship.
"Everyone at SEAT wants to win the BTCC because it's
prestigious and it's good for business and I have a funny
feeling that so long as our bad luck ends we'll be there at
the end of the year."
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