Jason Plato and Darren Turner gave the SEAT Sport UK Leon TDI a great HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship race debut by finishing Round 1 of the 2008 series line-astern in 3rd and 4th places respectively – giving the diesel-engined car a podium result first time out.
Jason made a great start from 4th on the grid to overtake Fabrizio Giovanardi on the run to Paddock Hill Bend, but “snappy oversteer” in the first corner saw Jason run a little wide and allowed Giovanardi to retake 3rd place at Druids.
When Colin Turkington spun onto the grass at Graham Hill Bend on lap two, Jason and Darren moved up to 3rd and 4th. The leading cars held station for the next 10 laps, until a heavy shower of rain livened things up. Mat Jackson suffered most, as his rear-wheel drive BMW lost its large lead as Giovanardi closed in with his front front-wheel drive Vectra. The Italian eventually took the lead with a move at Clearways in lap 18, and as the rain eased off, Giovanardi took the chequered flag after 24 laps, with Jackson in 2nd.
Jason and Darren finished 3rd and 4th after a small scare then Darren locked his brakes entering Graham Hill Bend on lap 18 and hit Jason. “I was following Jason closely and I just locked up coming down the hill into Graham Hill Bend; it was just a mistake, I wasn’t trying to overtake him,” admitted Darren. “We made contact, and it’s a good job Jason’s got good car control…”
BTCC Round 1
1. Fabrizio Giovanardi (Vauxhall Vectra)…20:15.564
2. Mat Jackson (BMW 320si)…20:15.779
3. Jason Plato (SEAT Leon TDI)…20:21.791
4. Darren Turner (SEAT Leon TDI)…20:23.027
5. Matt Neal (Vauxhall Vectra)…20:23.437
6. Gordon Shedden (Honda Civic)…20:23.994
Fastest lap: Colin Turkington (BMW 320si)…59.202
- SEAT Sport
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