BTCC Driver Profiles - Jason PlatoBorn: 14 October 1967Lives: Oxford / Monte Carlo Website: http://www.jasonplato.com 2007 Entry: Car #11, SEAT Leon (S2000) Instantly recognisable from TV programmes like five's 5th Gear, and the Racing Rivals docu-soap, Jason is the stereotypical racing driver: lives in Monaco, flies his own plane, and has expensive tastes. But be under no illusions - he's the real deal on the track. Took the 2001 championship with Vauxhall then went to ASCAR (now SCSA) series in an attempt to build an oval-racing career. Pundits predicted fireworks on his 2004 return, and although the press loved to tease out a contraversial quote or two the main story was JP's seven wins, more than any other driver. SEAT rewarded his results with a long term contract, and in 2005 he proved to be a great corporate asset for the team - competing in both the BTCC and selected WTCC meetings. 2006 saw him reunited with James Thompson, whose WTCC duties meant that for four meetings he would hand over to F1 tester Darren Turner, theoretically giving Jason a clear run at the title. However, the bullet-proof reliability of Matt Neal's Integra would mean that regaining the championship would be difficult - but not impossible. Away from the track Jason, once regarded as something of a ladies man, married in September to his long-time partner Sophie. Career highlights: 2007 BTCC again with SEAT Sport, the team's experience with S2000 machinery theoretically giving it a head start over its rivals. 2006 BTCC with SEAT Sport, now driving a Leon which he couldn't praise highly enough in pre-season testing. The confidence was justified as team-mate James Thompson won the opening two races at Brands Hatch. Jason however tangled with Giovanardi and was forced out of race one with suspension damage. Clawed his way up to 5th in the second race, which translated into a P3 start for race three. A decisive move on Chilton put him in the lead and he took his first victory of the year. Was runner-up twice at Mondello, and notched up a second win in Oulton Park leading SEAT's first 1-2 of the season. Thruxton was one to forget, first a puncture then a collision with Gavin Smith yielding two DNFs, though JP came from the back of the grid to salvage a podium in race three. He stood on every step of the podium at Croft in a weekend which included his 200th BTCC race. The Leon wasn't at its best at Donington, and coupled with some dubious driving from some of the midfielders, Jason only troubled the scorers once - and that was only for four points. Snetterton was far better: qualifying saw SEAT lock out the front row and Jason winning the first two races and eat into Neal's lead. Knockhill saw the situation reversed, although SEAT once again were P1 and P2 on Saturday, there was just the one win for Jason as Neal fought back. When the BTCC returned to Brands Hatch it was difficult to imagine how he could have done any better: pole (again, and another front row lock-out for SEAT), two race wins and a podium kept the title race alive going into Silverstone. The final weekend saw SEAT field three cars, but even though they secured the Manufacturers' championship they couldn't prevent Neal winning the championship as gearbox problems dogged Jason's progress on Saturday. Come Sunday his qualifying position effectively ended his chances, but worse was to come when his driveshaft failed in the second race and triggered an accident which hospitalised Mike Jordan - though it should be stressed that it was a racing incident. With Jason's car also badly damaged the team worked wonders to get him back out for the final race of the season, where he defended his 2nd place in the championship, finishing one point in front of Colin Turkington. 2005 BTCC with SEAT Sport. The car is now being run by SEAT's in-house preperation outfit Northern South. A run of disappointing results at Donington was put down to the increased base weight relative to BTCC-spec machinery, but the critics wasted no time looking for chinks in Jason's armour. At Thruxton he was at the centre of more controversy as he passed Muller under yellows then tried to let the Frenchman back past, this coming after a collision in race two. His first guest drive in the WTCC saw Jason bag 8th place then 2nd place for SEAT and help development of both cars. Back in the BTCC Jason scored podium finishes at Brands Hatch, but unsolved handling problems prevented him challenging for his first win of the year. He made up for it at Oulton Park, converting Saturday's pole into a race one victory, but fell victim to the weather later in the day when by his own admission he set up his brakes incorrectly and lost out on another good result by overshooting the hairpin. Had a physical and rather unrewarding day out at Croft, his home track, becoming involved in incidents with Dan Eaves and Rob Collard and eventually managing to salvage a third place. The stewards cleared him of any wrongdoing in the clashes, but some felt that turning Eaves through 90 degrees on the start-finish straight was somewhat unsporting. Snetterton was a disaster, with just one point on board in SEAT's least competitive weekend since they entered the BTCC. A 15kg weight reduction meant that Knockhill was more competitive, though podiums were still elusive as the car proved a handful in the wet conditions. With a top three championship position out of reach, JP did at least add another victory to his tally at Brands Hatch, but was unlucky to finish the final race of the year in the gravel after getting caught up in Eaves' and Muller's accident. Three wins, 4th place in the championship, and 208 points, all of which had to be combined with drives in the WTCC and television duties for Channel Five. 2004 BTCC with SEAT UK driving a Toledo to ETCC spec. Cunningly took advantage of the reverse grid rule to record a win in only the second race of the season. Bounced back from startline smash-up at Brands to take pole and podiums at Silverstone. At Mondello he again took advantage of the system to record another win, leading to criticism from some quarters that he couldn't win on merit. Jason proved this wrong in style at Croft by not only winning the second race, but then going on to lead another 1-2 for the team later that day. Guess what happened at Knockhill? Correct: he slowed to 10th for the first race and went on to win the second. A repeat of Croft was scuppered by deteriorating tyres and a faulty clutch but the point had been made. At the second Brands Hatch round he once again slowed to bag a front row start which true to form was converted into a race two win. Leading race three but was hit by Neal on the restart. Struggled with the extra weight imposed at Snetterton, and could only manage 11th in the first race. Nevertheless he made it onto the podium for race two after a battle through the field. Went to Donington fired up for the final round and snatched a victory in the first race, taking his total to seven wins - more than anybody else in 2004. He raced nose to tail with Muller in the last race to guarantee third in the championship with 224 points. 2003 linked with BTCC with GA Motorsports but concentrated on driver coaching in the SEAT Cupra Cup, and his TV career. 2002 3rd in ASCAR (Days of Thunder) series. 2001 BTCC Champion for Vauxhall, with 8 wins, 7 poles, 17 podiums, 11 fastest laps. Winner of BRDC silver star award. 2000 5th in BTCC for Vauxhall with 3 wins. 1999 5th in BTCC for Williams Renault with 1 win, 3 podiums and 1 pole. 1998 5th in BTCC for Williams Renault with 1 win, 6 podiums, 2 poles. 1997 3rd in BTCC for Williams Renault with 2 wins, 9 podiums, 4 poles. 1996 Elf Renault Sport Spider Cup - 11 wins, won championship. 1992 British F3 championship 1991 European Formula Renault Champion with 10 wins 1983 Junior World Grand Prix Kart Champion |
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