The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) heads to ‘The Home of British Motor Racing’ for the penultimate race weekend of the 2012 season at Silverstone. As the series speeds its way towards a dramatic conclusion, seven drivers still have a mathematical chance of winning the Drivers’ Championship, including MG KX Momentum Racing’s Jason Plato, who currently sits third in the standings.
Jason Plato took another superb pole position last time out at Rockingham; his fourth of the season, which means that the double BTCC Champion has now secured the top spot on Saturday at 50% of the season’s race weekends. Jason’s Sunday also got off to a great start as he secured his 72ndBTCC race win, a record in the series. A change in the weather for the afternoon’s racing at Rockingham saw a change in pace for Jason and his MG 6GT. Despite achieving two further podium finishes, the gap to the top of the championship didn’t diminish as planned, due to the strong results achieved by Jason’s championship rivals.
Andy Neate recorded one of his strongest weekends of the season to-date, as he qualified a 2012 best of 5th on Saturday. He backed this up with a great run to seventh in the day’s first race. Unfortunately retirement from race two, after contact with another car on the opening lap halted the Englishman’s charge, as the DNF also ensured he would start from the back of the grid for the third race at Rockingham.
The Silverstone race weekend is a home event for Triple Eight; the team that run the MG KX Momentum team, with the squad’s facility just a few miles down the road in Greatworth. The whole team will be hoping that home advantage can ensure a good haul of points to take to the BTCC finale at Brands Hatch in a fortnight.
Jason Plato (#99), BTCC Standings 3rd – 304 points:
“Two words spring to mind this weekend regarding my mind-set…. “Maximum Attack” enough said.”
Andy Neate (#44), BTCC Standings: 17th – 68 points:
“When it was dry at Rockingham we were very quick, however when the rain came down on Sunday afternoon we struggled for pace a little. Therefore it was great to get out at Brands last week, post Rockingham and get some much needed wet running in. Fingers crossed for strong pace this weekend come rain or shine!”
Ian Harrison, Team Principal, BTCC Standings: Teams – 5th – 367 points, Manufacturers – 2nd – 579 points:
“We need to make big inroads this weekend; end of story. Strong results in all three races could see us close the gap to the front, in order to take the fight to the final round. We have improved the car in all weather conditions since Rockingham, so it’s mainly down to eliminating the NGTC mechanical gremlins that have caused us problems this season and being on the money with the set up.”
