Oxford touring car driver Jason Plato has brushed aside comments made about him by "cocky" Tom Chilton and instead says he's hungrier than any of his rivals to win this year's Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship crown.

Plato, the 2001 BTCC champion, enters his third season driving for SEAT and, with the manufacturer's new Leon model at his disposal, clearly fancies his chances of a second title.

That's despite 21-year-old driver Chilton, who competes for the VX Racing team, based at Greatworth, near Banbury, claiming earlier this week that Plato was sweating after new SEAT team-mate James Thompson out-paced him in pre-season testing at Brands.

Speaking in the run-up to Suunday's opening round at Brands Hatch, Plato, 38, said: "If those sorts of words came out of a champion's mouth, someone who's been round the block, who knows what it's all about, then I'd listen to them. Tom's so jumped up.

"There's a long way to go in this championship and Chilton is getting a bit cocky. I'm happy with where I am in my career and he's probably just having a bit of fun.

"But I just sincerely hope for Tom's well-being that he can deliver what he trumpets. Results will speak for themselves."

Plato's chief role is to lead SEAT to a first manufacturers' title, a crown that his former team Vauxhall has held since 2001. He is also fiercely determined to lift a second drivers' title.

"I'm sure SEAT will admit it this is our first proper attempt to win the title," said Plato. "It's our third season in the BTCC, we're very focused and we've got a great car to do the job. The Leon is a very well designed and thought out car and winning the manufacturers' crown has really got SEAT turned on, but we must be reliable and have consistency.

"Of course winning the drivers' title is at the forefront of my mind. I want to win more than anyone else, but we must do the job we've got to do first and that's get the manufacturers' title secured."