Jason Plato took a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the second round of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch.
Having won the opening race of the season earlier today, Plato made it two out of two in relatively comfortable fashion ahead of Andrew Jordan and the charging Honda of Gordon Shedden.
Plato made a steady getaway from pole, but it was the rear wheel drive Audi of Rob Austin that again grabbed a stellar start. He challenged Plato around the outside of Paddock Hill Bend and on the run up to Druids, before settling for second on the opening lap.
Another quick starter was Colin Turkington who blasted his to way fifth in the BMW 125i M Sport, but his podium challenge was ended on lap two after he spun into the gravel following contact with Frank Wrathalls Toyota Avensis at Paddock.
Meanwhile Shedden and his Honda Yuasa Racing team-mate Matt Neal were carving their way through the order having started at the back of the grid following race one woes. Sam Tordoff had a brief off-track moment at Graham Hill Bend that allowed Shedden to move into sixth, which quickly became fourth after Wrathall made contact with Austin at Druids. The Toyota continued down the order while Austin crawled back to the pits and into retirement.
Shedden made a clean pass by the Honda Civic of Jeff Smith to move into the final podium position an incredible feat from the back of the grid. Team-mate Neal made his way by Tordoff further back to move into fifth, with the latter having chosen to run the soft tyre for the race.
Adam Morgan equalled his best ever BTCC finish claimed earlier today by taking seventh place at the finish. His reward is pole position for race three after his number was picked in the reverse grid draw.
Mat Jackson, the recovering Turkington, and Dave Newsham completed the top ten order, with Nick Foster just missing out in his BMW. Due to the attrition in the race, top S2000 runner Liam Griffin (Ford Focus) finished twelfth overall after a late race move on James Kaye (VW Golf) who took the first Jack Sears Cup in Race 1.
There was a late safety car after a clash between another pair of S2000 cars David Nyes Ford Focus ending up in the gravel at Druids after contact with Warren Scotts Seat Leon.
Despite the tension of a two-lap dash to the chequered flag, Plato wasnt to be denied and comfortably claimed the 76th victory of his BTCC career. I wish theyd stop throwing safety cars in that situation, said the championship leader. Last year was a sign of what might come but weve changed the balance considerably now so its much easier to drive. Its more pointy and less snappy on turn-in. Im on the soft tyre for the last race so well see what happens!
2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship - Brands Hatch Indy - Race 2
1 Jason Plato MG KX Momentum Racing 49.1242 Andrew Jordan Pirtek Honda +0.9893 Gordon Shedden Honda Yuasa Racing +1.3444 Jeff Smith Pirtek Honda +4.9585 Matt Neal Honda Yuasa Racing +5.0736 Sam Tordoff MG KX Momentum Racing +5.4547 Adam Morgan Ciceley Racing +5.8748 Mat Jackson Airwaves Racing +6.6409 Colin Turkington eBay Motors +7.08610 Dave Newsham Speedworks Motorsport +7.295
