Both SEAT Sport UK Leons will start the opening round of the 2007 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch tomorrow from inside the top three places, after Jason Plato and Darren Turner qualified in 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.

On a crowded Brands Hatch Indy Circuit, Jason never had a clean run as each flying lap was compromised by slower moving traffic. The 2001 Champion nevertheless finished the session just 0.016 seconds behind pole-sitter Colin Turkington (BMW).

Darren’s third position is even more remarkable, given that he only completed eight laps (as opposed to Jason’s 26 laps) as a vibration under braking saw him lock his Leon up and slide off the track early in the session.

Qualifying was held in sunny, yet cold, conditions and a big crowd of spectators is expected at Brands Hatch tomorrow for the three BTCC races – which start at 11.30, 13.35 and 16.50.

DRIVER QUOTES

Jason Plato: “I’m on the front row, but I’m disappointed because I never got a clean lap. It’s always difficult around the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit, but every flying lap I did was compromised by people wondering around on the racing line. I nearly always had a purple first sector, and then the lap would be ruined in the second sector. Not to worry. Second on the grid is normally a good place to start at Brands Hatch, and I just have to hope that the BMW next to me stalls or isn’t watching the lights!”

Darren Turner: “On my first flying lap I had a vibration under braking, so I just did a banker of a lap and came into the pits. The team changed the brake pads, but it didn’t solve the problem; if anything that made it worse, and it just caught be out coming into Druids. I’m amazed I still qualified third. I couldn’t hear the circuit commentary from where I was standing, so the spectators were telling me what position I was in by sticking their fingers up. Or at least I think that’s what they were doing!”