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Thruxton 2004

Green Flag

11/04/2004

SEAT - Race 2 Plato Wins

Victory For SEAT Sport UK In Its Second Ever BTCC Race

SEAT Sport UK driver Jason Plato sensationally won the second round of the Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Thruxton this afternoon, giving the new team a fantastic victory on its race weekend debut.

Plato led for 12 laps, superbly exploiting the advantage his Toledo Cupra had in the tight Complex section and under braking and keeping rival Yvan Muller behind him all the way to the chequered flag. Plato also set the fastest lap of the race.

Team-mate Rob Huff had a great start and was running in second place, ahead of Plato, when he clipped a kerb on the inside of Goodwood corner and momentarily went off – slipping down to 7th position. A restart after a safety car incident saw Rob hit from behind, and as he straightened up the front left of his Toledo Cupra was in contact with another car. This loosened a union on the front brakes, and when Rob hit the brakes for the chicane – at 140mph – the brake pedal went to the floor. He spun onto the grass on the outside of the track and then came into the pits.

Race 2: Jason Plato: Started 3rd. Finished 1st.
Rob Huff: Started 5th . DNF.

Jason said:
“This is one of the most rewarding race wins that I have ever had in my entire career. I’ve been working on this project right from the very start eighteen months ago and I’m so happy for all of the team. It’s just great to be back on the winner’s step of the podium, and the reaction from the crowd was awesome. It was a great race. I was faster in the tighter parts of the circuit and could pull away through the Complex and gain a bit under braking. You can make a car very wide at Thruxton, and I knew that if I was still leading with three laps to go I would beat Yvan [Muller]!”

Rob said:
“I had a great start and was lying second when I hit the kerb on the inside of Goodwood. After the re-start I got hit from behind and lost a lot of places, but after that you don’t hit the brakes until you come into the chicane at the end of the lap, and when I hit the pedal it went to the floor. A union had been knocked off and I had no front brakes at all. I stopped before hitting anything and just came into the pits. The up side of this was that I could watch Jason win for SEAT from the pit wall! It’s a fantastic result and I’m delighted for everyone in the team.”

Scott Dennis, SEAT UK Motorsport Manager, said:
“To be fair, this race victory far exceeds our expectations this weekend. Five weeks ago, when the Toledo Cupras arrived in the UK, we did not envisage standing on the top step of the podium in our second BTCC race. A lot of people have worked very hard for this, Jason drove incredibly well and it’s a truly great team effort.”