A controversial pole position in the British Touring Car Championship at Rockingham went to Jason Plato – after the Chevrolet driver was involved in a controversial incident with rival Matt Neal late in the session.
Click here for the full Round 22 Qualifying result.
One of the most exciting qualifying sessions of the season so far saw Plato take his third pole position of the year. However Plato was involved in an incident that scuppered Neal’s last chance to better the time, as the Chevrolet star slowed considerably around the hairpin in the closing minutes, causing Neal to hit the back of the Cruze. Neal had to return to the pits with damage to the front of his Honda, allowing Plato to take pole.
Following the qualifying session there were heated words and gestured exchanged between the drivers, with Neal clearly aggrevied at the moves. The incident will be looked at by the stewards ahead of Sunday’s races.
A number of other drivers topped the times at various stages during the session as the track continued to improve throughout the afternoon.
Lining up alongside Plato is Paul O’Neill, making it an all-Chevrolet front-row, after the Widnes racer scored his best qualifying result of the season. Rob Austin, who had topped the time sheets during the session, will start from third – also his strongest-ever qualifying in the NGTC Audi. Neal lines up alongside him in the Honda Civic.
James Nash qualified in fifth for the first race and has current championship leader Gordon Shedden alongside him on the third row of the grid.
Having tested here last week, Frank Wrathall continued to show strong pace throughout the afternoon and qualified in seventh, despite having also topped the times earlier in the session. Andrew Jordan will line up alongside the Dynojet Toyota racer.
Mat Jackson finished the session in ninth and as the top Ford driver, with Martin Byford for company in tenth.
A late red flag in the session came when Liam Griffin damaged his car going off track. Following the session stoppage the only driver to improve his time was Nick Foster, who qualified 11th with an identical time to Byford.
All three Team Aon cars will line up in succession, with Andy Neate claiming the honour of the fastest of the three in 12th. Tom Onslow-Cole and Tom Chilton will line up on the row behind in 13th and 14th respectively.
Despite showing strong pace in practice Alex MacDowall could only manage 15th in qualifying and faces a challenging first race.