Jason Plato is the 2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship after winning the second of today’s final three title-deciding races at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent.
Just as in race one, Chevrolet driver Plato led all the way from pole position – and this time it was enough for him to secure a second title having previously won the championship back in 2001.
It was also the 60th race win of Plato’s BTCC career and he has now equalled Andy Rouse’s all-time record of 60 victories in the series.
Matt Neal finished the race in second and is virtually guaranteed to finish as championship runner-up. Third was Robert Collard who set a new lap record in his BMW and also his second independent victory of the day.
Oxford’s Plato said: “The BTCC is one of the very best championships in the world so to win it is a very magical feeling. Everyone in my team, Chevrolet and RML who prepare the car, are the best in the business and also a great family of people so it’s a very joyous experience winning it for them.”
On matching Rouse’s wins record, Plato added: “Sixty wins… it sounds nice, doesn’t it? But not as nice as 61! The pressure’s off now so I can go and have some fun in race three…”
Neal was left in a clear second when Collard, who’d been pressurising him, lost ground with a brief off at Paddock Hill Bend, but there was nothing he could do to close down Plato. The Worcestershire driver, champion in 2005 and 2006, commented: “Hats off to Jason. He’s won it fair and square with the wins and being very cunning on track. But I still believe our Honda team have punched above our weight – Gordon (Shedden) and I have won a third of all the races this season. We’ll be back next year to give Jason an even harder time.”
Finishing the race a fighting fourth was Paul O’Neill in his Sunshine.co.uk with Tech-Speed Honda Integra while Tom Chilton’s Team Aon Ford Focus was fifth ahead of Airwaves BMW in sixth.
Source BTCC.net