Oxford's Jason Plato went top of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship standings after winning two out of three races at Snetterton, Norfolk.

Plato won races one and two, and with chief rival Matt Neal experiencing mixed fortunes, it meant the Chevrolet driver turned an eight-point deficit into a 20-point lead over his Honda rival.

Despite his Silverline Chev-rolet Cruze being laden with 36kg of success ballast in race one and then the maximum 45kg in race two, Plato led both from start to finish.

He also set the fastest lap in both to ensure he took a pair of maximum scores, while Neal retired from race one with a puncture and could only manage ninth in race two.

Neal did manage a third place in race three, with Plato coming home fith.

Plato is now on 57 career wins in the BTCC – just three shy of Andy Rouse’s all-time record of 60.

The 2001 champion said: “I expected us to be strong here and so it’s proved. The team has used the summer break really well and dug deep into all the data.

“We’ve improved a couple of key areas and the result is a really fantastic race car.

“This is where last year we really got our championship going and I have a sneaky feeling we’re going to be very strong again from here on in.

“I’m feeling very confident for the next race at Silverstone on August 22.”