Motor Racing: Plato's silver lining chase

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), July 29, 2008

Byline: By ZOE BURN

GEORDIE Touring Car ace Jason Plato says his title hopes are all but over after a tough weekend at Oulton Park.

The Tyneside-educated former champ has moved up into second in the BTCC chase, but believes the 44-point advantage held by reigning champion

Fabrizio Giovanardi is too big a gap to close.

"We're making big progress with the car and we'll be very strong next year, but as far as 2008 is concerned, I think it's over," he admitted.

Plato's comments follow a weekend of highs and lows at the Cheshire circuit.

After taking pole in the SEAT Sport Leon TDI, he scorched to a win in race one, before a misfire while leading the second forced him into retirement, and as a result he had to start the third from the back of the grid.

"While the series is still alive we'll keep on fighting, but I think Vauxhall and Fabrizio are too far ahead."

Meanwhile, it was an equally tough weekend for the Robertshaw Racing duo of Harry Vaulkhard and Alan Taylor.

Vaulkhard's assault got off to a bad start when he was excluded from qualifying after an incident involving help from marshals, and he was forced to start the race from 14th in his Chevrolet Lacetti.

His race started with a bang when he was hit by the Honda of Michael Doyle, but Vaulkhard was able to keep the car on track to finish in the same position he started.

Race two saw him lose his power steering as he sat in 12th spot and, despite a massive struggle, he was able to cling on to the position all the way to the chequered flag, which he followed up with another 12th in the third.

"It's very frustrating," he said. "We're knocking on that top-10 door every weekend, but we just can't make the breakthrough at the moment.

Taylor, at the wheel of his Honda Integra Type-R, suffered similar woes. Scoring a finish despite an early problem in race one, the second and third ended in the pits as mechanical gremlins struck again.

"It was great to get a race finish, but once again my luck ran out quickly," he said.

"Our next round is at Knockhill. Hopefully, my luck will change there."