Jason Plato is looking forward to fighting for this year’s British Touring Car Championship title after Team BMR confirmed the double champion will remain with the outfit for a third consecutive season.
Plato, who proved instrumental to bringing manufacturer backing to the team courtesy of Subaru, claimed a single race victory at Knockhill on his 500th championship start last season, along with pole position at the Scottish venue and a further ten podium finishes en route to seventh overall in the standings.
The most successful driver in the championship’s history in terms of race victories, Plato will partner rising star Ashley Sutton and the returning James Cole in three of the team’s Subaru Levorg GT machines, with an announcement on the fourth due prior to the official Season Launch on March 16th.
The Buntingford-based team are set to begin their pre-season testing programme within the next fortnight.
Plato, who revolutionised Team BMR from a race-winning outfit into thoroughbred championship contenders with his arrival alongside Colin Turkington and engineers Carl Faux and Kevin Berry in 2015, paid tribute to the outfit’s continued development as they chase a maiden drivers and manufacturers crown, the only championship accolades the team is yet to win.
That position is set to be strengthened with the arrival of BMR Academy graduate Sutton, who claimed a race victory, two pole positions and the Jack Sears Trophy for best rookie driver in his maiden campaign with MG last year.
“I predict 2017 will bring much success, I’m energised and looking forward to fighting for the championship,” commented Plato.
“Our team goes from strength to strength. We have a fantastic new addition to the driver squad in young Ash Sutton, I’m certainly expecting him to be right in the thick of the action. Testing begins in two weeks and I can’t wait.”
Plato will be looking to take his win tally in the championship to 100 in 2017, as he enters his 19th season in the BTCC.