SEAT’s Scottish treble

The SEAT steamroller was unstoppable as the BTCC circus hit Fife, with the Spanish team scoring a clean sweep of victories at the twisting Knockhill circuit.

Jason Plato took his Leon diesel to assured wins in the first two races of the day. But he was denied a hat-trick by team-mate Darren Turner, who scored his second victory of the year in the final outing of the meeting.

Despite Plato’s fine drives, he still trails Vauxhall ace Fabrizio Giovanardi in the title standings. The Italian demonstrated his legendary consistency by notching up two runners-up finishes and a fifth place. He now heads his English rival by 41 points.

Vauxhall also celebrated the excellent form of Tom Onslow-Cole. The youngster put on a strong display to secure two third places, creating identical podiums for the first two races. Yet in the final race he clashed with Plato, eliminating the SEAT driver but helping team-mate Giovanardi extend
his championship lead.

Fast-starting Turner out-dragged pole-sitter Andrew Jordan’s Honda Integra into the first corner, claiming a lead that he would maintain all the way to the flag. Behind him, 18-year-old Jordan drove a mature race, eventually finishing third behind the Motorbase BMW of Rob Collard.

Plato now has only two rounds left to try and retake the crown he last won in 2001. But with Giovanardi able to sew up the championship at the next meeting at Silverstone on 31 August, the SEAT star will need to be at his very best.