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Sutton hits out at “brainless” BTCC rival but Plato defends his driving
British Touring Car champions Ash Sutton and Jason Plato have sparked a war of words after a controversial collision in the final race of the day at Snetterton last weekend ruined both their chances of a podium finish.
The duo were engaged in a physical battle for first place with Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra driver Plato, on the less favourable harder tyres, holding off the soft-tyred BMR Racing Subaru Levorg of Sutton.
After several tussles, the race came to a head on lap nine, when the pair made contact several times. It resulted in them both being jumped by eventual winner Rory Butcher’s Amdtuning Honda Civic.
Plato was blamed for a collision with Sutton at Brundle which turned the estate-shaped car around. Sutton finished 20th and Plato fifth, but Plato was docked 10 seconds for that incident and a further five for a move on poleman Chris Smiley (BTC Honda) on the opening lap.
Sutton, the 2017 title winner, was fuming after the collision. He said: “It was brainless. It is just stupidity. [He had hit me several times] and then gets his joker card out, and he turns me around under the bridge. That was the third time he had hit me.”
Plato felt aggrieved at the penalty and said that Sutton, who had been his team-mate for two years at BMR in 2017 and 2018, had been the instigator.
“Ash is pissed off ? He needs to grow a pair of balls,” said Plato immediately after the race.
“He needs to look back at the videos and see how he drives sometimes. I don’t believe I initiated the contact with him.”
Sutton is sixth in the standings after 18 of the 30 rounds, while Plato lies in ninth spot. Neither Plato nor Sutton has won a race yet this year.