Jason Plato won the first race at Snetterton as Chevrolet's dominated
Jason Plato led a works Chevrolet Cruze one-two in the first British Touring Car race on the Snetterton 300 circuit on Sunday
Plato and team-mate Alex MacDowall (from third) initially got away well, but the power of the Honda Civics and a great start by Matt Neal meant they were under pressure into Riches.
Neal tried to go around the outside of Plato to take the lead, but contact between the two spun Neal round and sent him across the track in front of the pack. Everyone avoided the Civic, but Neal would only recover to 18th.
At the front, Plato gradually edged away from MacDowall. Gordon Shedden's Civic, carrying 25kg of ballast, shadowed the second ballast-free Cruze throughout but never got close enough to try a move.
After jumping James Nash's Triple 8 Vauxhall Vectra on the opening lap, Tom Chilton's Arena Motorsport Ford Focus held fourth early on. But he was soon under pressure from the impressive Frank Wrathall, having his best run yet in the Dynojet NGTC Toyota Avensis.
Chilton eventually made a mistake at Riches, allowing Wrathall to slip by. He then drew away to secure a strong fourth and the Independents victory.
Chilton slowed on the final lap, allowing Nash into fifth, while Mat Jackson (Motorbase Ford Focus) withstood intense pressure from Paul O'Neill's Tech-Speed Cruze to take sixth from 13th on the grid.
Results - 11 laps
Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap
1. Jason Plato Chevrolet 24m12.064s
3. Alex MacDowall Chevrolet + 2.242s
3. Gordon Shedden Honda + 3.419s
4. Frank Wrathall Dynojet Toyota + 10.113s
5. James Nash Triple 8 Vauxhall + 15.397s
6. Mat Jackson Motorbase Ford + 18.928s
7. Paul O'Neill Tech-Speed Chevrolet + 19.196s
8. Tom Onslow-Cole Arena Ford + 24.102s
9. Tom Chilton Arena Ford + 26.035s
10. Dave Newsham Special Tuning SEAT + 26.884s
11. Jeff Smith Eurotech Vauxhall + 27.306s
12. Andrew Jordan Eurotech Vauxhall + 32.633s
13. Nick Foster WSR BMW + 33.330s
14. Martyn Byford AmD Volkswagen + 33.816s
15. Rob Austin Austin Audi + 40.162s
16. Andy Neate Arena Ford + 44.389s
17. Liam Griffin Motorbase Ford + 46.453s
18. Matt Neal Honda + 55.616s
19. John George Tech-Speed Chevrolet + 56.625s
20. Chris James ES Chevrolet + 1m13.714s
21. Tony Hughes Speedworks Toyota + 1m16.042s
22. Daniel Welch Welch Proton + 1m43.854s
23. Rob Collard WSR BMW + 2 laps
Retirements
Tom Boardman Special Tuning SEAT 2 laps
Lea Wood Central Honda 0 laps
Tony Gilham Triple 8 Vauxhall 0 laps
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