Jason Plato will bid to continue his great Silverstone form when the British Touring Car Championships enters the penultimate round this weekend.

The Oxford driver is 55 points behind championship leader Colin Turkington with just six races of the season left.

Turkington extended his advantage a fortnight ago at Rockingham, where Plato leapfrogged Gordon Shedden to become the Ulsterman’s closest challenger.

But having won four races in the last two years at the Northamptonshire circuit, Plato is not out of title contention.

  • Latest Sport news “Silverstone has a special vibe to it,” said the MG KX Clubcard Fuel Save driver.

“It’s the home of the British Grand Prix and the home of British Motorsport, we get a fantastic crowd and the races always produce action up and down the pack.

“It’s one of the standout events of the year and one that produces great racing.

“It’s also extra-special for me as I live down the road, so there will be a lot of family and friends there. I just think it will be a cracking weekend.”

Plato is undoubtedly the form driver at Silverstone with ten previous triumphs to his name on a circuit where he holds the qualifying lap record.

While his fortunes have fluctuated somewhat this year, anything less than a double victory for the two-time title-winner will likely be regarded as a disappointment for the 2001 and 2010 champion.

Drivers’ standings: 1 C Turkington 366pts, 2 J Plato 311, 3 G Shedden 302, 4 A Jordan 255, 5 R Collard 242.

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