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British Touring Car Championship
Silverstone - Race 1 Report - 7/10/12

By MJP Media | 7 October 2012

Jason Plato enjoys victory in the first race at Silverstone as championship rivals Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden struggle to score points. Dave Newsham and Aron Smith complete the podium positions.

Aron Smith, Jason Plato and Dave Newsham celebrate after the first race
Aron Smith, Jason Plato and Dave Newsham celebrate after the first race

Following his dominant performance in the qualifying session yesterday, Jason Plato started the first race of the day from Silverstone in pole position with his MG KX Momentum Racing MG6 alongside the Redstone Racing Ford Focus of Mat Jackson who qualified 2nd. Row two was taken by Frank Wrathall in the Dynojet Toyota Avensis and Rob Collard in the eBay Motors BMW 320si. Dave Newsham in the Team ES Racing.com Vauxhall Vectra and Daniel Welch in the Welch Motorsport Proton Persona started on row 3.

Jason Plato got a good start to the race but was under early pressure from Mat Jackson. After a period under the Safety Car, Jackson continued to attack Plato and found a way past on lap 11. Jackson and Plato started to extend a slight lead over Dave Newsham who was running in 3rd place ahead of the Redstone Racing Ford Focus of Aron Smith.

Jason Plato on his way to victory in the first race of the day
Jason Plato on his way to victory in the first race of the day

Elsewhere in the field, defending BTCC champion Matt Neal's weekend went from bad to worse. Having qualified a lowly 10th, his Honda Yuasa Racing Team Civic suffered a technical problem with the turbo boost and was retired on lap 14.

It looked like the race was going to we won by Mat Jackson, however a problem with the throttle cable on his Redstone Racing Ford Focus caused him to retire on lap 22, allowing Jason Plato to re-take the lead.

Dave Newsham gives a 'thumbs up' for 2nd place at Silverstone
Dave Newsham gives a 'thumbs up' for 2nd place at Silverstone

At the chequered flag it was a much needed victory for Jason Plato with Dave Newsham 2nd and Aron Smith 3rd. Smith was delighted with his maiden BTCC podium result. Rob Collard finished 4th for eBay Motors ahead of Rob Austin in 5th and Nick Foster 6th.

Despite Matt Neal not finishing the race and team-mate Gordon Shedden finishing 7th, Shedden still leads the Drivers Championship from Neal with Jason Plato 3rd however the margins at the top of the table have now reduced. If the Hondas continue to struggle in the remaining two races this afternoon, Plato could lead the championship by the end of the day.

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