Drivers Call for Calendar Change
Touring Car stars Jason Plato and James Thompson have called for the British and World Touring Championships to avoid calendar clashes - so they can race in both
Plato is only competing in three WTCC rounds this season, starting with this weekend's round at Silverstone, because he is focusing on the BTCC. The calendars clash five times this season, meaning a driver cannot challenge for both crowns.
Plato's Seat team have yet to commit to next season's BTCC, prompting speculation that they will add the 37-year-old to their WTCC assault instead.
Plato told Autosport-Atlas: "I have a contract with Seat but it would be great if I could race in both series next year.
"I wouldn't mind racing 30 weekends a year - it would be like NASCAR. Bring it on, I say. It would make sense commercially for the manufacturers if the calendars avoided each other."
Reigning British champion James Thompson, who has switched full time to the WTCC, would also welcome such a change.
Thompson said: "It would be great to race for a manufacturer every weekend. Why not? It's been done before, and as a British driver it's nice to race in Britain.
"To be a Brit abroad is a great thing and you've got to fight to keep yourself there. But it hurts the World Championship too. British drivers generally get overlooked and there are only three British drivers in the WTCC with only 35 cars."
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