BTCC // PLATO CLAIMS POLE @ BRANDS HATCH

In a titanic qualifying battle at Brands Hatch Jason Plato out paced his championship rivals to take pole position for Sundays first race of the 2010 series finale. Despite carrying 45kg of (championship success) ballast, Plato edged out the two Team Honda Civics of Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden with only 0.144 of a second covering all three title aspirants... [read more]

Plato who gains an extra championship point for the pole commented “My first pole of the season – I couldn’t have timed it better! It’s been a fantastic qualifying – not just the session but the way everyone has prepared for it and gone about today. We were fastest in both practice sessions this morning and gain now. To do that with maximum ballast in the car is very pleasing.”

The other driver of the four still in with a chance of claiming the prestigious title Tom Onslow-Cole didn't fair so well and will line up in tenth spot on the grid after a frustrating session which saw the youngster from New Malden fail to replicate his free practice pace after going the wrong way with the Focus's set-up.

Ben Collins (aka "The Stig") had a nightmare day in the third Airwaves BMW with the former sportscar driver failing to set a time in qualifying after a electrical fault with the 320si's ECU caused gearbox cooling pump failure.



Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship Brands Hatch Saturday 9th October 2010.

Qualifying Results:

1. Jason Plato Silverline Chevrolet Cruze 48.647secs

2. Matt Neal Team Honda Honda Civic 48.780secs

3. Gordon Shedden Team Honda Honda Civic 48.791secs

4. Alex MacDowall Silverline Chevrolet Cruze 48.830secs

5. Tom Chilton Team Aon Ford Focus ST 48.871secs

6. Mat Jackson Airwaves BMW 320si 48.885secs

7. James Nash Triple Eight Vauxhall Vectra 48.902secs

8. Sam Tordoff Triple Eight Vauxhall Vectra 48.947secs

9. Paul O'Neill sunshine.co.uk Honda Integra 49.100secs

10. Tom Onslow-Cole Team Aon Ford Focus ST 49.110secs

11. Andrew Jordan Pirtek Racing Vauxhall Vectra 49.171secs

12. Tom Boardman Special Tuning (UK) SEAT Leon 49.173secs

13. Robert Collard West Surrey Racing BMW 320si 49.190secs

14. Steven Kane Airwaves BMW BMW 320si 49.249secs

15. Andy Neate West Surrey Racing BMW 320si 49.540secs

16. Arthur Forster Forster Motorsport BMW 320si 49.788secs

17. Lea Wood Central Group Racing Honda Integra 49.841secs

18. Martin Depper Forster Motorsport BMW 320si 49.960secs

19. Martin Johnson Boulevard Team Racing Vauxhall Astra 50.010secs

20. John George sunshine.co.uk Honda Integra 50.116secs

21. Shaun Hollamby AmDMilltekRacing.com Volkswagen Golf 50.129secs

22. Ben Collins Airwaves BMW BMW 320si No time

23. James Kaye WRC Developments with Barwell Honda Integra No time

24. Dave Pinkney Pinkney Motorsport Vauxhall Vectra Withdrawn


Editorial/Photo: Neil Tozer