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Rockingham BTCC: Jason Plato escapes grid penalty after appeal

Jason Plato will not be forced to take a grid penalty for the first British Touring Car Championship race at Rockingham

The MG driver had been handed a verbal warning by TOCA officials on Saturday morning for a race-three clash with Rob Austin at the previous round at Knockhill, which triggered an automatic grid penalty when added to two previous offences.

Plato - who was previously penalised for contact with championship leader Colin Turkington in the third Oulton Park race and again after an incident with Alain Menu in race two at Croft - immediately appealed the penalty, which MSA stewards have overturned prior to qualifying.

It means practice pacesetter Plato has avoided a potentially critical blow to his championship hopes before Sunday's trio of races.

"I was disappointed and surprised they apportioned any blame to me," Plato - who is currently third in the championship, 39 points behind leader Colin Turkington - told AUTOSPORT.

"I didn't brake any later into that corner. What actually happened is Rob didn't know I was there. So why are we even discussing it? Anyway, it's done now."

Austin, who did not protest his rival after the Knockhill incident, said after the stewards' decision that he believed Plato had not intentionally hit him but was lucky to escape without punishment.

"I saw the onboard footage and I could tell it wasn't deliberate," he said.

"I'm not taking it as a personal attack. It was a shame for us but if we protested what do we gain?

"I think he's pretty lucky to get off scot-free but I've got no grudge to bear against him."

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