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Jason Plato moved another ten points closer to championship leader Fabrizio Giovanardi with his eighth win of the season in a wet opening race at Silverstone. While the SEAT Sport UK driver led from start to finish, the series leading Italian had to settle for a safe fifth place after starting only 11th on the grid. The pair are now separated by 30 points with five rounds remaining...
Plato and team-mate Darren Turner took advantage of their front row starting positions to lead the early exchanges from the fast starting BMW 320si of Steven Kane (Motorbase). Kane, however, spun off at the end of the second lap and the Safety Car was deployed while the striken BMW was recovered.
The two SEAT Leon TDis maintained their advantage after the re-start but their stranglehold came under increasing pressure from Mat Jackson. The BMW Dealer Team UK ace was revelling in the tricky conditions and charged through the pack from his lowly 14th starting position. On the 19th of the 25 laps he slipped past Turner to take second place and put Plato under increasing pressure during the final few laps. The SEAT driver, though, held his nerve to win, taking the chequered flag to score the Spanish manufacturer's 100th BTCC podium since entering the series in 2004.
BTCC Silverstone, Race 1 result (provisional):
1. Jason Plato (GBR, SEAT Sport UK/SEAT Leon TDi, 25 laps in 30m29.829s
2. Mat Jackson (GBR), BMW Dealer Team UK/BMW 320si, +0.545s
3. Darren Turner (GBR) SEAT Sport UK/SEAT Leon TDi, +6.194s
Fastest lap: Jackson, 1m08.144s (86.58mph).
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