Touring car driver Jason Plato has penned an article for The Sun outlining why he would like young drivers the opportunity to improve their skills and knowledge of cars. Plato says it is pointless telling youngsters not to drive fast because they will anyway. He proposes giving newly-qualified drivers the chance to prat about in controlled conditions so that they cope better on the roads. He said:
“Road safety is a very important issue and I’m quite passionate about doing what I can to prevent accidents and saving needless and tragic young deaths on the road. What needs to be done is educate young drivers on how to drive properly and show them what a car can and can’t do. I think the combination of understanding and skill will prevent accidents.”
TH Motorsport/JAG Honda Integra driver stayed in hospital under observation last night after a big crash in the final round of the British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch. While Fabrizio Giovanardi and Jason Plato scrapped it out for the title, George decided to entertain himself with a bit of car gymnastics.
The 47-year-old driver climbed out of the wrecked car, but was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.
Vauxhall´s Fabrizio Giovanardi won his second consecutive British Touring Car title despite putting in his worst performance of the season at Brands Hatch on Sunday. We told you on Friday that the championship had gone down to the wire, but Giovanardi was the hot favourite.
SEAT´s Jason Plato was an outside chance, but failed to take advantage of Giovanardi´s poor showing. If Plato had picked up maximum points, Giovanardi would have needed nine points to win the championship. The Italian only managed to pick up one point after damaging his car in the first race, missing race two because of an engine problem and only scored his point in the final race by setting the fastest lap.
Touring car drivers Fabrizio Giovanardi and Jason Plato go into Sunday’s race at Brands Hatch for a championship-deciding showdown. Both drivers are still in contention at the final race meeting of the season. Vauxhall driver Giovanardi is hotly-tipped to defend the title he currently holds as he holds a big points advantage over Plato.
SEAT’s Plato is 44 points adrift of his rival with a maximum of 52 points available in the three races at Brands Hatch. Giovanardi needs just nine points to wrap up the title and even he is on the verge of admitting it is a case of when rather than if he wins a second successive BTCC.
“Brands Hatch looks like an easy circuit to drive, but it isn’t,” he said. “It will be so important to watch the points’ standings. I’m hoping for a podium finish in the first race so that we can secure the championship titles early on.Â
Drivers on the British Touring Car Championship have been warned to clean up their act amid concerns that the meetings are becoming competitive bumper car races. Ahead of a decisive meeting at Silverstone this weekend, former world champion Tim Harvey has voiced his displeasure at the increasing levels of car-to-car contact.
“Nobody likes to see all those beautiful machines with hammers being applied to them and panels being replaced,” said Harvey, who is now a commentator for ITV. “It is up to the officials to decide if there is too much contact. You have to say that on occasions it does go too far.”
