DIVISIVE, BUT A PURE-BORN RACER
What do you think of when you hear the name Jason Plato? Most likely, you will have one of two reactions and I will predict them. You might think he is mustard, the British Touring Car Championship’s equivalent of Gilles Villeneuve – arms, elbows, success, incident and action. On the other hand, you might well think he is the motorsport equivalent of Wimbledon FC when it beat Liverpool in the FA Cup final in 1988. That day, the Crazy Gang beat the Culture Club. And Plato, justifiably, can also be called president of the BTCC’S Crazy Club.
Whatever you think, what is irrefutable is that Plato has been the headline act in the BTCC since he first stepped into it in 1997. And now look at him: on the cusp of winning 100 tin-top races and there is no hint of him being any less committed to the category. Plato has told us before that he enjoys winning but that feeling only lasts for 100 yards after the chequered flag has fallen. A few feet later, he is thinking about how to win the next one.
Sure, he has ‘played’ MN sometimes to get what he wants from media coverage, but that is another string to his bow.
It is not only about what he does behind the wheel, it is about his vision of what happens away from it that is almost unique among his rivals. It is about being as savvy as you are fast.
Look at the deals Plato has brought into the BTCC. Myriad manufacturers and sponsors have been introduced to the series through him. The sizeable checklist that has nothing to do with the simple fact of Plato performing behind the wheel. It has something to do with delivering value, and proving that value, through success, to those partners.
Plato might be the president of the Crazy Club on track, incident-packed, determined to win and a man who goes on to deliver the wins. For any true motorsport fan, isn’t that what you want? Describe what you want a proper racing driver to be, and I think you’ve just described Jason Plato. He takes time to answer MN readers questions this week.
Elsewhere in this issue, we look at two of the rising stars on the global stage as deputy editor Graham Keilloh speaks to FIA F3 racer Enaam Ahmed, and Luke Barry catches up with WRC starlet Gus Greensmith.
We take a look at the huge roster of success from Junior Rallycross in the UK, scope out the success of Castle Combe and also reflect on Lotus’s first F1 victory, 60 years ago. As the disjointed season looms closer, there is plenty for UK fans to get excited about.