Jason Plato Q&A

"I went out initially on slicks, but there was no way it was going to dry. I switched to wets but it was too late to change the set-up to full wet like Yvan did. I just had way too much front camber and the car's handling was just dead, so I couldn't do anything with it. I got hammered off the line because the footprint is that much smaller and there was no traction at all. It's one of those things, that's what I hate about these sort of conditions. I had to make a call and didn't want to play a safe game, I wanted to be bold and win it. We backed the wrong horse."



"It's so tight. I just hope it doesn't hinge on one of us having one more non-finish than the other. There's nothing in it. That's why it's such a shame about the sprint race here because I had the legs on everyone...****ing hell, the weather's really bitten me in the arse!"



"I just all went off and I thought 'oooooooh, this could get fun!' It's horses for courses, it meant I got past James but, I have to say, the weather ruined it. If it hadn't been wet I would have walked it. But, you know, it rains in England sometimes..."



"I do. It would be nice if there was more competition. If there was then this would be a bloody great championship. What we've got now are cars that are 3secs per lap off a Super Touring car for four times less the budget. The manufacturers are going to get the same coverage and TV exposure as the old days and they'll have more money to spend behind the scenes to push it all along. It makes sense. OK, we'd all like a bit more power and bit more grip, but it doesn't really make a difference for the spectators. We need Peugeot and Lexus to get their arses in gear and we need MG to come in and do it properly and then some others. Then we'd have a proper championship again."



"I can only relate it to when I was at Williams [the works Renault team which took the title with Alain Menu] in 1997. I was rookie guy and wasn't experienced enough to consistently win races and be as quick as Alain. We had the best car in the world - we won the last race of the year by 14secs. Since then, I've not had a car capable of winning the championship, just like Alain hadn't until last year. This car is as good as the Renault was then, or the Nissan was in '99, or the Ford last year. We've got that now and I defy anyone to come in and beat us."



"I think this is going to be the hardest championship to win than any in the past because there is no-one else involved. If Yvan has a duff race, he's going to come third. Last year, if Menu had a duff one he could come eighth. That's why it's going to be a bloody hard one to win, it really is."



"Absolutely. If I won this one I'd be happier than if I'd won it in any previous year."



"If they do their sums right then I think they'll be just ahead of Peugeot. How close they'll get to us, I don't know. But I do know they're not going to beat us. Next year, we'll see."



"I'm working on the NASCAR thing, which has been on-going for quite a while, but it's going to be a tough nut to crack. I don't have a deal for next year so I'm talking to people now. I kind of want to stop in England I think. My TV thing has worked well on the back of this and I'd love to continue with Vauxhall if we can agree terms."



"Yes that would be nice. I'm determined to see that happen."