Jason Plato opens campaign with win

Jason Plato took victory in the opening British Touring Car Championship race of the season at Brands Hatch, despite contact from second-placed finisher Andrew Jordan at the final corner.

Click here for the full Round 1 results.

Polesitter Andrew Jordan initially led the race, whilst Rob Austin got off to a strong start on the softer tyre. On the second lap Austin made a move on Jordan into Clearways, with an opportunistic Jason Plato following through.

Thereafter Austin drove a defensive race from Plato on the unknown soft tyres, but was unable to hold off the experienced former champion and on lap 14 Plato passed Austin for the lead. Austin held on to second for a further five laps, before Jordan took second at Clearways.

Jordan then set about closing down the 1.2 second gap to Plato before the end of the race and heading into the final lap was half a second behind. At the final corner of the final lap the Pirtek driver made an attempt to pass Plato but contact was made and both drivers drove through the gravel. With the positions unchanged, Plato held on to take his 75th career BTCC win.

Rob Austin finished in third, claiming his third BTCC podium, ahead of MG’s Sam Tordoff in fourth. Jeff Smith had a relatively quiet run to fifth, ahead of a hard-charging Frank Wrathall who came from 25th on the grid to take sixth.

Adam Morgan and Colin Turkington finished seventh and eighth respectively, with both drivers opting to use the softer compound tyre in the first race. Turkington charged through the field from 27th on the grid after his qualifying accident.

Airwaves Racing’s Árón Smith and Speedworks Motorsport’s Ollie Jackson completed the top ten.

A diastrous race for both Honda drivers saw Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal only able to finish in 19th and 21st, after both drivers had to make pitstops due to overheating and a puncture respectively. Indeed just a few laps prior Neal had forced Shedden onto the grass along the start/finish straight whilst defending his position, filling Shedden’s radiator with grass.

BTCC Round 2 takes place at 14:17 GMT.

More to follow.