Jason Plato scored win number eight of the season in round 26 of the 2006 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch. It was another straightforward outing for Plato, who led away from pole position.

There was a new engine for Plato’s SEAT teammate Darren Turner ahead of the race, but it failed to resolve the problems Turner had been suffering earlier in the day, and he pitted at the end of the green flag lap, as did Martyn Bell, with a broken driveshaft. There was also no Eoin Murray or Gavin Smith on the grid with problems persisting from race one, although Smith joined the race late on.

With Plato leading away from the line, it was Colin Turkington who initially went second ahead of Matt Neal at Paddock, but Neal was back in front with the inside line at the Druids hairpin.

There was no change at the front for the next couple of laps, but then Fabrizio Giovanardi put a robust move on Rob Collard to take fourth position away from the Team RAC driver at Druids. Collard lost out again next time around at Druids as both Dave Pinkney and Tom Chilton edged out the MG.

The safety car was out on track on lap eight when Adam Jones’ Xero Competition Lexus IS200 became beached in the gravel at Paddock after a tag from Chris Stockton.

The order at this stage was Plato leading from Neal. Colin Turkington was third ahead of Giovanardi, Shedden, Pinkney and Chilton.

Matt Neal got a run on Plato at the restart but the SEAT was quick enough to stay ahead. Indeed, Plato’s pace was enough to secure his second win of the day and his eighth of the season. It means Plato has now won more races this year than Neal, and the Team Halfords driver needs to score eight more points than his rival in race three if he is to wrap the title up here at Brands Hatch.

Behind the lead pair, Colin Turkington made it a complete replica of the first race podium, while Gordon Shedden finished fourth. Giovanardi and Chilton were fifth and sixth respectively for VX Racing, although with Turner not finishing, their results ensured Vauxhall won the Manufacturers’ Trophy for this race. Rob Collard finished seventh, fending off a late challenge from eighth placed Gareth Howell. Dave Pinkney and Jason Hughes finished ninth and tenth.

Racewinner Jason Plato drew the number six card after the race, making it an all Vauxhall front row for race three.