WORDS BY ADAM PROUD | IMAGES BY BTCC
Two-time British Touring Car Champion Jason Plato will join the BTC Racing squad for 2022 as he eyes up reaching 100 victories in the series.
Plato returned to the grid last season with Power Maxed Racing after a one-year sabbatical from the series, racing in a Vauxhall Astra.
But the 54-year-old will switch to a Honda Civic Type-R in 2022, racing alongside BTC returnees Josh Cook and Jade Edwards, in what will be his final year before retiring from the series.
"I think I can win races and I still think I can win the championship if everything goes the right way," said Plato.
"I want to sign off while I am in a good place. I would rather walk away from the series having won a load of races this year, been in the fight for the championship and having been a contender.
"That would make me happy and be an excellent way to sign off from the championship."
The Oxford-born racer added that it was an easy choice to join the team after watching their progress and seeing the talented group of engineers they have.
“I have been able to watch BTC Racing from a distance, and I have seen the team go from strength to strength,” Plato said in a press release.
“I raced against Josh Cook in previous seasons, and I know where the car is good and where it is not. The Honda has been good for many, many years in specific areas on tracks. It really has its strengths.
“I was very impressed on my first day, with what I saw from the team.
“There are a lot of very clever people there – everybody knows their role; everyone is bringing something to the engineering table we have.”
As the BTCC gets ready for the 2022 campaign, Plato currently sits on 97 race wins heading into the season and will look to reach the 100 mark by the end of the year.
Steve Dudman, Team Owner of BTC Racing, said he hopes the BTCC veteran can achieve the milestone with the team.
“Jason has shown what a world-class driver he is throughout his career, and I have always admired him,” he said.
“I believe that in the BTC Honda Civic he can reach his 100th win milestone and everyone at BTC Racing wants to share it with him.
“Jason is hugely capable of winning races and I’m sure he will be in the championship mix from the start.”