BTCC Wins for Shedden and Plato at Wet Donington

17 July 2007

Team Halfords’ Gordon Shedden and SEAT’s Jason Plato shared the race wins in today’s three Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship rounds at a rain-lashed Donington Park circuit in Leicestershire. For Plato, victories in both races two and three have enabled him to turn a one-point deficit into a sizeable 25-point lead at the top of the championship over Vauxhall driver Fabrizio Giovanardi as the BTCC next heads for the Snetterton circuit in Norfolk on 29 July.

Notably, Plato’s victory in today’s third race – shown live on terrestrial television channel ITV1 – was one of his finest and his success was made all the sweeter when Giovanardi finished out of the points.

Plato, who had also finished fifth and ahead of Giovanardi in race one, said: “On a dry day, Donington was also going to be our bogey circuit, but the rain played into our hands and we took advantage. It’s a dream set of results. As for the rest of the season… we won twice at Snetterton last year, but still need to be on our guard. If we can leave there still ahead by a decent amount then we’ll go into two of our strongest circuits, Brands Hatch and Knockhill, in very good shape.”

Having gradually erased a 24-point gap to Plato during the season’s opening half and moved a point clear, Giovanardi suddenly finds himself with it all to do again. The Italian added: “It’s going to be like the first half of the season all over again, except this time I will have only four race weekends to catch Plato, not five. Of course today is a big disappointment. I should have scored points in race three but my windscreen wiper failed and I could not see the track and went off. But I won’t give up. I still believe we have a chance.”

Vauxhall has at least held onto its lead in the Manufacturers’ table over SEAT, although it is the latter’s SEAT Sport UK squad that has taken over at the top of the Teams’ championship. Mike Jordan and Team RAC remain leaders of the Independents Drivers’ and Teams’ championships respectively. Jordan today celebrated his fourth outright podium finish in as many meetings, while fellow independent Adam Jones also starred.

BTCC.net

See series calendar for British Touring Car Championship 2007

Related Story 14.07.2007 - Shedden Secures BTCC Pole Position at Donington