Plato fends off Collard to win race two at Thruxton

Jason Plato produced a defensive masterclass to win race two of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton, after fending off the attentions from Rob Collard’s BMW for much of the contest.

Collard blasted by Plato’s Team BMR VW off the line and immediately set about holding position. Prior to the race Collard cited the need to maintain the lead for at least the opening three laps while his BMW 125i M Sport built enough heat into its Dunlop tyres. Unfortunately for the real-wheel drive racer he was unable to withstand the pressure and Plato was back into the lead by the end of the second tour.

There was drama behind when Andy Priaulx’s BMW and Adam Morgan’s Mercedes made contact at high speed through Allard with both cars spinning wildly out of control. Both recovered but for Priaulx it was only a brief reprieve after further contact at the Complex forced him out of contention.

Jeff Smith’s Eurotech Honda and Josh Cook’s Power Maxed Chevrolet were two of the four pitlane attendees at the end of the first lap, with both having had to take evasive action from the Morgan/Priaulx incident. Both were successful in their attempts but as they skittled across the grass they both collided with the lightweight Dunlop advertising hoardings. With placards attached to the front of their machines they were both forced to pit to avoid their cars from overheating.

Gordon Shedden had settled into third ahead of the fourth placed battle between Aron Smith’s VW and Matt Neal’s Honda. The tussle came to a head on lap seven when Neal’s Civic Type R made contact with the Team BMR machine at the complex. It was a heavy hit and one that forced Neal into retirement and Smith to limp on in the lower reaches of the top ten – he would eventually finish 11th.