Controversial race 2 win for Plato
Jason Plato claimed a controversial victory in today's second British Touring Car Championship race at Snetterton after tangling with arch-rival Matt Neal on the final lap
The incident was the latest in a string of Plato-Neal spats, and saw the reigning champion spinning down to eighth at the Russell chicane while Plato survived to collect victory.
Plato had led throughout the race while Neal fought his way up from fifth. Once in clear air, he quickly demolished the gap to the SEAT and was right on Plato's tail on the final lap, but his last gasp bid for glory ended in contact and frustration.
The only consolation for Neal came in the draw for the race three grid. With Plato picking ninth as the place where the reversal would start, today's final round will feature an all-Team Halfords front row with returnee Gareth Howell ahead of Neal, while Plato will start from inside row five.
The last corner drama meant that the race became a SEAT one-two, with James Thompson appearing in second behind teammate Plato.
Title contender Colin Turkington mounted an impressive recovery drive to come from the back of the grid to a close third, ahead of Mike Jordan and Rob Collard.
CLASSIFIED:
Pos Driver Make Time
1. Jason Plato SEAT Leon 28:22.073
2. James Thompson SEAT Leon + 1.650
3. Colin Turkington MG ZS + 3.406
4. Mike Jordan Honda Integra + 6.881
5. Robert Collard MG ZS + 7.118
6. Gordon Shedden Honda Integra + 8.200
7. Tom Chilton Vauxhall Astra Sport + 9.174
8. Matt Neal Honda Integra + 14.992
9. Gareth Howell Honda Integra + 15.907
10. Eoin Murray Alfa Romeo 156 + 17.849
11. Mark Proctor Honda Civic Type R + 36.124
12. Fiona Leggate Vauxhall Astra Coupe + 39.577
13. Erkut Kizilirmak Vauxhall Astra Sport +1:02.001
NOT CLASSIFIED:
Driver Make Laps
Gavin Smith Vauxhall Astra Sport 15
Jason Hughes MG ZS 15
Fabrizio Giovanardi Vauxhall Astra Sport 9
James Kaye Honda Civic Type R 8
Mark Smith Alfa Romeo 156 5
David Pinkney Honda Integra 0
Martyn Bell BMW 320i E46 0
Fastest lap: Colin Turkington, 1:13.252 on lap 9
Share Or Save This Story
Hamilton accepts blame for incident with Albon in F1 Brazilian GP
Ferrari drivers called to F1 stewards over Brazilian GP collision
Will Alonso's Indy failure end the age of versatility?
The key takeaways from the BTCC season opener
How Plato's BTCC return swept the Silverstone paddock
Friday favourite: When a BTCC legend taught Tordoff the ropes
BTCC Snetterton: Sensational Sutton strikes from 10th to win, disaster for Ingram
DTM Zandvoort: Van der Linde grabs victory for BMW as Dorr takes maiden podium
Why wet Canadian GP will be "the perfect storm" for F1
BTCC Snetterton: Rainford dominates to lead home Ingram
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments