MG KX Momentum racers Jason Plato and Sam Tordoff put on a star performance at Brands Hatch, but Plato narrowly missed out on lifting a third British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch on Sunday.

Plato set himself up for a shot at the crown with two wins over the opening two races in Kent, but could only fight to tenth position in the third event that meant he lost out at a shot at the crown. He finished third in the points, but he was the most successful driver in the series in terms of victories with wins in eight of the 30 rounds of the year.

Plato said he was happy to have collected two more wins and he says that lessons learned in the showdown would help him next season.

“The whole team was performing to its maximum this weekend and we reaped the rewards,” said Plato. “I knew the championship was a long shot coming in to the event but we gave it our all and third place in the drivers’ points is a solid result.

“We have learned some things about the wet-weather set-up of the MG6 and we’ve left no stone unturned this weekend. That was a pleasing aspect and we did everything that we could. The performance that we unlocked is something that gives us a good direction for next season. The signs are very positive.”

Tordoff lined up on the front row of the grid alongside Plato and turned that in to a second place finish in the opening event before a third in race two. He was particularly upset to have been run off the track by another car in the final event, which he thought he could have won.

“The car was like a rocket ship in the third race, even though it was bent like a banana after the contact,” said Tordoff. “I am convinced that I would have been able to get on to the podium at least – maybe even have won.

“It was a shame, because it has been a strong weekend for us. We have sorted out our wet performance and the car is good wet and dry now, which is an encouraging sign. I have really enjoyed my first season in the BTCC and I feel I can walk away with my head held high.”

Team principal Ian Harrison also credited the team after the successful weekend. He said he thought that the overall performance was strong and it means the team is looking forward to next year’s campaign.

Harrison said: “We came in to the meeting in fifth place and we walked away in third position, so we have to be content with that. We took another couple of wins, a one-two and a one-three and another pole position. That’s a pretty good checklist.

“We have learned more thing about the car which is going to be useful for next season. We have signed off the year in style.”