Jason Plato boosted by test in BTCC team-mate Ash Sutton's Subaru
Double British Touring Car champion Jason Plato says that a back-to-back test in BMR team-mate Ash Sutton's Subaru Levorg has boosted him for the second half of the 2017 season
Plato drove Sutton's Subaru in a test session at Donington Park recently, and says that uncovered differences in the two machines and gave him a direction to work on for the remainder of the year.
"I never doubted myself because I've been at this a long time," said Plato, who has struggled so far this season and is only 15th in the championship.
"I know what feels right and what doesn't feel right.
"You could say [the test] is a weight lifted off my shoulders. And it's a relief that everybody else within the team has some understanding as well - not just the high-level engineers, but the mechanics as well."
Sutton drove Plato's car and Plato drove the sister machine, which has won two races in 2017.
Both cars were set up the same way, and 95-time BTCC race winner Plato said the difference in the way they reacted was obvious.
"I liked the feeling on the front of [Ash's] car, he likes that mine's a bit lively on the rear, but he didn't like the lack of grip at the front," he said.
"His gearchange is completely different to mine in the way it exits a corner, and it should be the same.
"The cars were reacting differently in the same points of the track, no matter which driver was at the wheel.
"So it was a very useful test and the main thing is we can start drilling down and taking driver style out of it. With slightly different styles we were getting the same reaction.
"We know where the differences of the car are and we can now start exploring and digging a bit deeper rather than scratching our heads."
The next rounds of the championship take place at Snetterton this weekend.
Previous article
Who is winning the BTCC's five-way manufacturer war?
Next article
Snetterton BTCC: Tom Ingram and Jack Goff lead practice sessions
BTCC: Oulton Park Race 3 in 75 seconds
BTCC: Brands Hatch Race 3 in 60 seconds
BTCC: Brands Hatch Race 2 in 80 seconds
BTCC: Brands Hatch Race 1 in 80 seconds
BTCC: Thruxton Race 3 in 90 seconds
The increasingly varied CV behind a new BTCC title challenger
A driver with limited funds behind him, it’s been a tough road to the top of the British Touring Car Championship for Jake Hill. Now he’s a title contender, accomplished historic racer and in-demand coach. It’s a great life for this self-confessed motorsport junkie
The outright tin-top wins achieved by a forgotten tin-top great
Already established as a formidable force in the British Saloon Car Championship, the Triumph Dolomite became a legend in 1977 when Tony Dron's Broadspeed machine frequently embarrassed the mighty Capris
Five key plotlines to follow in the 2021 BTCC
It’s been a busy silly season in the BTCC since the chequered flag fell to end the 2020 campaign last November. While last year’s top two have stayed put, there’s plenty of talking points elsewhere, which should result in another fascinating year of tin-top action
The giantkilling 'dad and lad' operation taking on the BTCC's best
The Lancashire squad of Ciceley Motorsport has been a BTCC race winner for several years with Adam Morgan and Mercedes. But the switch to WSR-built BMWs and addition of Tom Chilton as a true barometer for Morgan should see the team step up into title contention
How a returning champion is feeling at home again in the BTCC
After topping the times at the end of British Touring Car Championship pre-season testing, it feels like Gordon Shedden has never been away. But after plenty of changes behind the scenes, the three-time champion is bedding himself in to pick up where he left off
Why a BTCC legend remains defiant at '97 not out'
After a year of enforced absence from the British Touring Car Championship grid, Jason Plato is back and hungrier than ever. Despite stellar opposition and some familiar challenges, the two-time champion still has his eyes focused on the biggest prizes
How Ingram's clean slate can end his BTCC title wait
After seven years together, Tom Ingram and Speedworks Motorsport have amicably split and gone down separate paths for the 2021 BTCC season. With engineer Spencer Aldridge joining him at the Excelr8 Motorsport Hyundai squad, Ingram is confident he can challenge for titles from the off
How the unlikely Capri-slaying Dolomite triumphed against adversary
The Dolomite Sprint was a potent giantkilling weapon during the 1970s in the British Saloon Car Championship, now known as the BTCC. Tin-top legend Andy Rouse explains how it became such a force
