LE MANS SERIES 2010
Making the Cruze
20/06/2010
Two podiums and more crucial points taken from today's three Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship races at Croft have ensured Jason Plato's championship fight is still very much on track at the mid way point of his BTCC campaign, currently lying in second place, just eight points adrift of Matt Neal.
Bearing the weight of 36kgs ballast in the first of the day's races, Jason made a strong start but the lighter LPG powered Aon Ford found a way through and began to close the gap to Alex MacDowall, running 4th on track. It was a short lived threat and by lap 7, Jason was back up to P5, showing good pace as he hustled the back of his team mate's Cruze, all the while looking to make a move which came three laps later.
Jason took the chequered flag in 3rd place, but a 4th place finish from Neal did little to ease the pressure as the title fight heats up between the two racing adversaries.
It was a tough race for 'local' boy, Alex, as he found himself slipping further down the field, finishing 13th.
With a reduction in weight to 27kgs on board for race two, Jason was back to his usual form, taking full advantage of the raw pace now available in the lighter Cruze. Snatching P2 from Collard on the opening lap Jason matched Shedden's race leading pace but a lap eight dive up the inside from Neal thwarted any plans for Jason to clinch the lead, as Jason described, 'he used me as a bit of a brake, but that's touring car racing, isn't it?' Jason finished a useful 3rd.
Alex's race took a turn for the worst - clipping the tyre barrier on the chicane he picked up significant damage to the front right corner, which pushed him down the pack as he recovered. A flapping front bumper would eventually fly off the Cruze on lap 11 adding to the dramatic spectacle of touring car racing, yet despite looking a little ragged to say the least, Alex continued to take 9th place.
Alex commented, "I got quite a good start, but the BMW got ahead. We made a set up change from the first race, which seemed to make quite a big difference. There was some carnage ahead, with Lloyd and Nash taking each other out, so I had to avoid that and from then on, was behind Jordan, where I stayed until the end of the race. Overall we went in the right direction (on set up). On the positive side we finished in the top ten and got some more points."
Race three didn't disappoint with thrills and spills aplenty. Unfortunately Jason wasn't able to capitalise on the Honda's poor form and take a third straight podium, instead forced to pit for a new rear tyre following a puncture. Jason finished 16th, taking one point for his fastest lap set after the pit stop.
Alex fared little better in the final race, although a good start off the line saw him running 7th and looking feisty behind Shedden before Neal muscled his way through, barging ahead of Alex and paving the way for others to follow as Alex, thrown off course, fought to maintain position.
Losing four places in the hairpin mele, Alex had worked his way back upto P8 but as racing egos flared and the usual race three drama unfolded with scrapes and bumps through every turn, Alex slipped down to finish in 10th place.
Despite not managing to visit the podium for a third time, Neal's retirement has guaranteed the next race at Snetterton in six weeks time will be as competitive as ever. Jason retains second place in the championship, with 111 points to Mat's 119. Gordon Shedden has now 100 points placing him 3rd in the standings.
Jason summarised, "I totally feel I could have won that race, had I not got stuck behind that Ford. It was slow everywhere, except down the straight and I just couldn't get passed it. I genuinely feel I had the pace to win that race, but we got a puncture, so what can you do?
We wanted to go out to try and get a point for fastest lap, which we got. But at least Matt had a bit of bad luck as well. It's status quo, as we left at Oulton. I'd rather be second in the championship for now, because then I carry less weight."
Looking ahead to the summer break Jason adds, "we've got some testing coming up, so we'll be working on our package ready for Snetterton, where we'll be on maximum attack!"
