Plato absolved of blame for BTCC Oulton Park race one Oliphant crash
Two-time British Touring Car champion Jason Plato has been absolved of blame for the accident that caused a red flag in the first race of the day at Oulton Park.
Plato’s move on the West Surrey Racing BMW 330i M Sport of Tom Oliphant resulted in the latter spinning across the track at Lodge Corner, and being heavily hit by the Excelr8 Motorsport Hyundai i30 Ns of Chris Smiley and Rick Parfitt.
Oliphant, whose crew are rushing to ready the BMW in time for race two, was furious about the accident and the verdict.
“The move was never on, and it was late,” Oliphant told Autosport.
“Entering the braking zone, he had a car length on me, and as I was turning in he jinked his car to the right, so he knew there was going to be contact. He knows it, I know it.”
But Plato said that the decision vindicated his racing style, and praised series organiser TOCA, which this year has recruited former BTCC race winner James Cole as the series’ driving standards officer.
“This is how I race: it’s a game of chess,” Plato told Autosport.
“If I claim that square – that bit of Tarmac – with my car, then you can’t have it. I know you want it, but you can’t because my car is there and I have it.
“Because I was there, that’s an overtake, and I can have it.”
Plato went on to finish seventh after the restart in his Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra, after starting 18th following brake problems in qualifying.
“The championship had got itself into a bit of a rut before: ‘Oh, he’s forced someone off’, but in this case he’s taken himself out,” added Plato.
“He’s taken himself off just as Max Verstappen took himself off [in the British Grand Prix] and just as Colin Turkington numerous times over the years has taken himself off, by turning in when there’s someone there.
“They need to learn how to concede; it’s all about giving people racing room, and TOCA are starting to realise this, otherwise there won’t be any racing.”
BTCC: Brands Hatch Race 3 in 60 seconds
BTCC: Brands Hatch Race 2 in 80 seconds
BTCC: Brands Hatch Race 1 in 80 seconds
BTCC: Thruxton Race 3 in 90 seconds
BTCC: Thruxton Race 2 in 75 seconds
The outright tin-top wins achieved by a forgotten tin-top great
Already established as a formidable force in the British Saloon Car Championship, the Triumph Dolomite became a legend in 1977 when Tony Dron's Broadspeed machine frequently embarrassed the mighty Capris
Five key plotlines to follow in the 2021 BTCC
It’s been a busy silly season in the BTCC since the chequered flag fell to end the 2020 campaign last November. While last year’s top two have stayed put, there’s plenty of talking points elsewhere, which should result in another fascinating year of tin-top action
The giantkilling 'dad and lad' operation taking on the BTCC's best
The Lancashire squad of Ciceley Motorsport has been a BTCC race winner for several years with Adam Morgan and Mercedes. But the switch to WSR-built BMWs and addition of Tom Chilton as a true barometer for Morgan should see the team step up into title contention
How a returning champion is feeling at home again in the BTCC
After topping the times at the end of British Touring Car Championship pre-season testing, it feels like Gordon Shedden has never been away. But after plenty of changes behind the scenes, the three-time champion is bedding himself in to pick up where he left off
Why a BTCC legend remains defiant at '97 not out'
After a year of enforced absence from the British Touring Car Championship grid, Jason Plato is back and hungrier than ever. Despite stellar opposition and some familiar challenges, the two-time champion still has his eyes focused on the biggest prizes
How Ingram's clean slate can end his BTCC title wait
After seven years together, Tom Ingram and Speedworks Motorsport have amicably split and gone down separate paths for the 2021 BTCC season. With engineer Spencer Aldridge joining him at the Excelr8 Motorsport Hyundai squad, Ingram is confident he can challenge for titles from the off
How the unlikely Capri-slaying Dolomite triumphed against adversary
The Dolomite Sprint was a potent giantkilling weapon during the 1970s in the British Saloon Car Championship, now known as the BTCC. Tin-top legend Andy Rouse explains how it became such a force
The rollercoaster ride of West Surrey Racing's 40 years
It’s four decades since one of UK motorsport’s most successful teams made its debut at Silverstone in British Formula 3. Now it’s top dog in the BTCC, time to blow out some candles with boss Dick Bennetts
