BTCC Drivers/

Jason Plato/

Nationality: British
Date of Birth: 14 October 1967
Place of Birth: Oxford, England
Lives: Oxford, England
Marital Status: Married, two daughters
Website: www.chevroletbtcc.com

Statistics/

BTCC Debut: Donington Park, 31 March 1997 (Renault Laguna)
BTCC Races: 321
BTCC Wins: 55
BTCC Podiums: 139
BTCC Poles: 29
BTCC Fastest Laps: 54
BTCC Career Points: 2525

Current Year/

Team: Silverline Chevrolet
Car: Chevrolet Cruze
Spec: S2000
Car Number: 2
Sponsors: Silverline

Titles/

2001 British Touring Car Championship
1996 Renault Spider Cup Championship
1991 Formula Renault Euroseries

Career History/

2009
• BTCC with RML/Racing Silverline Chevrolet Lacetti. Only agreed terms days before season started but still won a race in Brands Hatch’s opening round. Went on to become arguably series’ fastest team-driver-car combination with an unrivalled 4 pole positions and 7 race wins – including the near unique feat of three in a day in final round on Brands GP track (where he also won opening race by closest-ever winning margin - 0.015s). Finished 2nd overall in championship. Ended season with 53 career race wins – just seven shy of Andy Rouse’s BTCC record of 60.
2004-08
• Returned to BTCC with newcomer SEAT. Raced manufacturer’s Toledo model ’04 and ’05. Won with it on debut at Thruxton in ’04, ending season 3rd outright with 7 race wins in total. Then 4th outright in ’05 with 3 race wins. Team switched to Leon model in ’06. Finished 2nd outright with 8 race wins and 2nd again in ’07 with 6 race wins, losing out in final round at Thruxton to Vauxhall’s Fabrizio Giovanardi – a race he contested in pain from burns suffered in amid-week accident while filming for 5th Gear. 3rd outright in ’08 when SEAT switched to diesel power with its Leon TDi. Plato became first driver in BTCC history to achieve a race victory with a diesel-powered car, at Donington Park – his first of 8 race wins that season.
2002-03
• ASCAR (US stock-car based series based at new Rockingham ‘oval’) with RML team. Was 3rd overall in ‘02. Also became a presenter/test driver on Channel 5’s motoring show 5th Gear – a role he continues to fulfil today.
2000-01
• BTCC with Vauxhall and the beginning of an often turbulent relationship with team-mate Yvan Muller… Finished 5th overall in 2000 with 2 race wins in team’s Vectra (its final year). CHAMPION in 2001 with 8 race wins in new Astra Coupe running to new technical regulations, coming out on top in dramatic final round at Brands Hatch when Muller’s car caught fire. Then quit team and BTCC for two seasons.
1997-99
• BTCC with Williams-Renault (UK) team in its Laguna model. Caused major shock by qualifying on pole position for two debut races at Donington Park (ahead of team-mate Alain Menu and others such as Biela, Rydell, etc). And again for next race at Silverstone! Ultimately finished 3rd outright in ’97 with 2 race wins. Also finished 2nd to Menu in Tourist Trophy contested by best of other international series at Donington. Was then 5th overall in both ’98 and ’99 with 1 race win in each season until Renault withdrew from series.
1996
• Renault Spider Cup with Mardi Gras Motorsport. CHAMPION with 11 race wins.
1995
• Formula Renault UK. Limited season in Van Diemen with old team Manor.
1992
• Limited season of British F3 with factory Van Diemen team in its first F3 car.
1991
• Formula Renault UK (3rd overall) and Euroseries (CHAMPION) in Manor Motorsport Van Diemen.
1980-90
• Junior World Grand Prix Kart CHAMPION in ’83.