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British Touring Car Championship
Knockhill Preview - WIN TICKETS!

By MJP Media | 3 August 2016

It's '500 not out' for Jason Plato as the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship heads to Knockhill near Dunfermline for the 7th meeting of the year on August 13th and 14th.

Jason Plato will start his 500th BTCC race at Knockhill

Following an eventful and action-packed meeting at Snetterton last weekend, Rob Collard took over the lead in the Drivers' Championship from his Team JCT600 with GardX team-mate Sam Tordoff who now lies 2nd in the standings just 3 points behind Collard as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship heads to Knockhill near Dunfermline for the next rounds of the 2016 season. For fans of the BTCC, Knockhill is always a popular venue. Its mixture of dips, crests, blind brows and off-camber surface, together with notoriously unpredictable weather, makes it a real challenge for the drivers and a fantastic spectacle for the viewing public.

Rob Collard made his BTCC debut in May 2000 and has been driving for West Surrey Racing since 2010 but has still to lift the Drivers' Championship trophy. Could 2016 be Rob's year? Both he and Tordoff will certainly have to watch their mirrors as the Halfords Yuasa Racing duo of former BTCC champions Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden are close behind with Neal just 6 points off the championship lead. Silverline Subaru BMR Racing's Colin Turkington is steadily accumulating points and lies 5th in the standings with Motorbase Performance's Mat Jackson close behind. Tom Ingram, Andrew Jordan, Adam Morgan and Jack Goff complete the top ten.

Rob Collard is the current Drivers' Championship leader

Lying just outside the top ten is former double Drivers' Championship winner Jason Plato. Being only 64 points behind championship leader Rob Collard and with a possible 67 points available from each of the four remaining meetings, Plato could still be a serious challenger for the 2016 title. The odds may be against him but if anybody can, Plato can! Knockhill will be a significant milestone for the Silverline Subaru BMR Racing driver as race one will mark his 500th BTCC race start. Plato has won more races than any other driver in the history of the BTCC, taking victory in 94 of the 499 races in which he has competed and has accumulated 220 podium finishes, 48 pole positions and 84 fastest laps along the way. Quite a record!

In addition to Rounds 19, 20 and 21 of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, there will be a full supporting programme of events including action from the Michelin Ginetta GT4 SuperCup, Porsche Carrera Cup GB, MSA Formula Championship and Simpson Race Products Ginetta Junior Championship. Watch all the race action on ITV4 or better still, get to Knockhill and experience the whole spectacle for yourself.

Local hero Gordon Shedden knows the Knockhill circuit well

Tickets for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship meeting at Knockhill on August 13th and 14th can be obtained from the Knockhill web site or by calling the circuit on 01383 723337. There's FREE admission for accompanied children under 12 years.

WIN TICKETS!
In association with MJP Media we have two pairs of weekend admission tickets for the BTCC meeting at Knockhill to give away. To be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets and for full entry details click here and answer a simple question based on this preview. Competition ends at 12:00 on August 9th.

Touring Car content supplied by MJP Media