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BTCC 2012 Index

Jason Plato crowned 2010 BTCC champion

BTCC News | Sun 10th October 2010

Jason Plato has won the 2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship after securing a double victory at Brands Hatch.

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Silverline Chevrolet driver Plato clinched the title with a second straight lights-to-flag win in front of a huge crowd at the Kent circuit. It's a win that also sees him equal Andy Rouse's record of 60 BTCC victories.

Plato was trailed home by closest rival Matt Neal, but his advantage is now 29 points, with a maximum of 17 available in the day's final race.

Plato said: "It's been a dream weekend for us. The guys have worked tremendously hard in the second half of the year and the Chevrolet Cruze I've got underneath me this weekend is absolutely stellar.

"You can only do a good job if you've got a good team behind you and I've got the best in the business behind me. I'm very chuffed. It's been a top weekend."

One of Plato's championship rivals, Gordon Shedden, was out of the race before it started. The Scot pitted after the green flag lap with a driveshaft issue. Although he later rejoined the race, he was several laps down.

That left the title battle as a straight two-way fight between Plato and Neal.

Just as in the first race, Plato made the better start. He was followed away from the line by teammate Alex MacDowall, but the youngster was the victim of a tap from Neal up at Druids. That knocked the Chevrolet wide and allowed the Honda through to second.

A clash between James Kaye and Arthur Forster at Clark Curve brought the safety car out. At the restart, Neal found himself under pressure from Rob Collard and was forced to focus as much on defending his position as chasing down Plato.

Plato's pace had been electric since Saturday's first free practice session and this race was no exception. Try as he might, Neal had no answer for the Chevrolet.

Plato was dominant at the front and put in a drive worthy of a champion, crossing the line first to take his seventh win of the year.

Matt Neal finished the race in second place, saying: "I'm second and gutted. I take my hat off to Jason though. We'll be back next year to take the fight to him again."

Behind the title protagonists, Rob Collard filled the third step of the podium, also taking his second Independent victory of the day. Sunshine.co.uk's Paul O'Neill was fourth, ahead of Tom Chilton, Steven Kane and Andrew Jordan. Mat Jackson, James Nash and Andy Neate completed the top ten.

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