Silverstone BTCC: Plato leads MG one-two after qualifying
Jason Plato scored pole position for round 25 of the British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone on Saturday, beating Triple Eight MG team-mate Sam Tordoff by 0.009s around the point-and-squirt National Circuit
In the opening stages, Plato held P1 with 58.406s to Tordoff's 58.456s, but they would get even closer on their second flyers, with Plato working down to 58.210s and Tordoff to a 58.219s.
"It's close, isn't it?" said Plato. "We have to turn this pace into race-winning performances now. We had a good run in practice, and the dry these MGs are quick. We just need to get through without problems."
Tordoff, who admitted his set-up was very similar to Plato's after going in different directions in practice, added: "I'm not sure where those nine-thousandths are in the lap! The car feels really good."
Dave Newsham will start third in his Speedworks Toyota, ahead of title contender Colin Turkington in the first of the WSR BMWs.
"I'm really pleased, it was a bit more than we were expecting," said Turkington. "Straightline speed isn't our strength but we have other strengths. As all year, it's been good in the slow corners and change of direction."
Frank Wrathall recovered to set the fifth-quickest time in his Dynojet Toyota after his first lap time, which was exactly the same as Newsham's, was removed for failing the ride-height test.
Jack Goff will start sixth in his Vauxhall Insignia, ahead of Adam Morgan (Toyota), Rob Collard (BMW), Matt Neal (Honda) and points leader Andrew Jordan.
Jordan's closest title rival, Gordon Shedden, was only 15th fastest in his Honda. Jordan said: "It was a really good, nice and neat lap.
"With the weight we've got on, it's great to be only a couple of hundredths off Matt. Shedden's behind us with less weight than me, so that's nice."
Pos Driver Car Time Gap 1. Jason Plato MG 58.210s 2. Sam Tordoff MG 58.219s +0.009s 3. Dave Newsham Speedworks Toyota 58.358s +0.148s 4. Colin Turkington WSR BMW 58.598s +0.388s 5. Frank Wrathall Dynojet Toyota 58.701s +0.491s 6. Jack Goff Hard Vauxhall 58.749s +0.539s 7. Adam Morgan Ciceley Toyota 58.750s +0.540s 8. Rob Collard WSR BMW 58.788s +0.578s 9. Matt Neal Honda 58.797s +0.587s 10. Andrew Jordan Eurotech Honda 58.821s +0.611s 11. Andy Neate IP Tech Chevrolet 58.834s +0.624s 12. Mat Jackson Motorbase Ford 58.885s +0.675s 13. Aron Smith Motorbase Ford 58.900s +0.690s 14. Daniel Welch Welch Proton 58.926s +0.716s 15. Gordon Shedden Honda 58.932s +0.722s 16. Howard Fuller Hard Volkswagen 58.988s +0.778s 17. Will Bratt Austin Audi 59.014s +0.804s 18. Jeff Smith Eurotech Honda 59.099s +0.889s 19. Rob Austin Austin Audi 59.104s +0.894s 20. Ollie Jackson Speedworks Toyota 59.182s +0.972s 21. Tom Onslow-Cole Motorbase Ford 59.266s +1.056s 22. Nick Foster WSR BMW 59.591s +1.281s 23. Aiden Moffat Hard Volkswagen 59.807s +1.597s 24. Lea Wood Wood Vauxhall 59.845s +1.635s 25. Liam Griffin Motorbase Ford 1m00.080s +1.870s 26. Warren Scott BMR Volkswagen
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