Plato confident of closing the gap

5:32pm Friday 16th May 2008

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JASON Plato is confident he can close the gap on HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship leader Fabrizio Giovnardi in the next round of races at Thruxton this weekend.

The 39-year-old, raised in the North-East, gave SEATs new Leon TDI its maiden BTCC race win at Donington Park - the first-ever in the championship for a diesel-powered car - and two more podiums that day saw him rise from fifth in the standings to second behind 2007 rival Giovanardi.

Notably, he slashed his own gap to Vauxhall driver Giovanardi from 28 to 16 points.

While Thruxton is one of the strongest circuits on the calendar for Giovanardis Vectra VXR, Platos turbo-diesel engine is also expected to make his Leon a potent force around the Hampshire track.

And after his breakthrough win at Donington he is optimistic of more success at Thruxton this Sunday as he begins his bid to close down early.

"For me, Thruxton will be all about taking more points out of Fabrizios lead and closing the gap in the Drivers and Manufacturers championships," Plato told www.btcc.net.

"It would be nice to score another win, and I think that is possible. We had a good race weekend at Donington, followed by a good days testing there.

"Weve found the direction we want to go with the Leon TDI, were discovering the set-ups which make the car tick and were down to the detail in terms of smoothing out the rough edges and making the car a little quicker and a little easier to drive."

Italian Giovanardi won his 2007 title at Thruxton by pipping Plato in one of the most dramatic of season finales.

But Plato admitted that despite his recent history at the circuit he has still has a fondness for the Hampshire track.

"I love Thruxton, its a mega track," he added.

"It can be a frustrating circuit without a strong engine because the straights are so long, but for the first time in ages Im really looking forward to going back there.

"Weve taken some big gambles on set-up during the first three race meetings of 2008, and Thruxton will be the first circuit well come to with a clear idea of what we need to do."