Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship 2012

[Ardius]

Yeah, the post-race interview said it all really that Plato knew he was in trouble for that.

Problem is, will TOCA really put the points on his license and hence exclude him? He's obviously a huge asset and draw for the series, even with his dirty behaviour. A tricky one.

If Plato does lose his license, do we think 888/MG will try to find a replacement? Plenty hanging about without a drive at the moment, but surely they wouldn't pay for someone to drive?

It would also be interesting to see 888 put their weight behind Neate and see what he can really do with a top team giving him effectively number 1 support.

 

[DK]

Plato. That was dirty. He has to get a penalty. Great win for Jackson though...

If he gets away with it, I'm going to try that in a few GT5 lobbies. I'll just say I "locked up".

 

[Furinkazen]

If he gets away with it, I'm going to try that in a few GT5 lobbies. I'll just say I "locked up".

DK, you tried that with me last night in TOCA...

 

[Furinkazen]

Plato has been penalised, Jackson DQ'd for Turbo issues. Shedden gets R3 win.

 

[lbsf1]

Tell it how it is Shedden! By the way, if Plato gets penalty points on his license again, he is excluded (or rather, his race license will be suspended for a while) from the next race weekend if I understand correctly due to the points he has already earned himself over the past year.

I think it is for 6months for getting 12 points on an MSA licence (I have 3 on mine ).

I was waiting for a full replay of the race to be on youtube so I could watch it, however I gave in and clicked on the video of this incident. WOW, just WOW how is he allowed to do this so blatent that he pushed him off, and then lying to the press, if Sheden braked earlier then both of them would have just stopped earlier for the corner, simple. I think an exclusion at the very least.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Plato has been penalised, Jackson DQ'd for Turbo issues. Shedden gets R3 win.

Whoa, guess it all ended well for shedden in the end! Although Platos penalty seems a little pointless now... Since he's gained a second place finish anyway!

 

[Ardius]

Well I've read elsewhere that after Brands, Plato currently has 9 points on his license. So 3 more and he is suspended for 6 months - quite damaging to his own and 888's campaign as well as MG and BTCC's image and interest.

Which is why its not surprising that he's only been given a 2 second penalty simply to correct his action rather than giving him the penalty he really deserves.

But certainly Plato really, really needs to clean up his act for Thruxton, TOCA aren't going to be lenient forever, BRDC ambassador or not.

 

[DK]

Plato has been penalised, Jackson DQ'd for Turbo issues. Shedden gets R3 win.

Wow, I wasn't expecting Jackson getting a DQ! Any specific info on why he had turbo issues?

 

[MatskiMonk]

Wow, I wasn't expecting Jackson getting a DQ! Any specific info on why he had turbo issues?

Likely the boost pressure was too high. Big shame for Jackson... If there's a driver on the grid that isn't BMW powered that I'd like to see winning, it's Mat. Rules is rules though I guess.

Sheddon gets two wins this weekend then.

 

[Ardius]

It doesn't seem to get mentioned at all in this thread so:

Congrats on some great racing and even some good results for:
-Aron Smith, great to see drivers from the support series actually making the step up and doing well.
-Tony Gilham, especially as he's now got his first podium.
-Jeff Smith, wow he's much improved over last year and he's been running alongside even sometimes beating teammate Jordan from time to time. Shame the pole didn't turn into anything but he's really proven himself this weekend.
-Dave Newsham, continues to show he is championship-contending material. Shame he made the mistake hitting Jordan as it blotted another pretty impressive and competitive weekend.

Just a few shout-outs to some of the lesser drivers that did well as I see most people only mention the front-runners here.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Just a few shout-outs to some of the lesser drivers that did well as I see most people only mention the front-runners here.

Well most of the action we saw was at the front. I agree though, both ES cars again showed a good turn of speed. Not sure about Jeff smith though - terrible start from pole and didn't seem to recover. I'm also pleased for Gilhams revised result.

 

[Furinkazen]

And Jeff Smith for Pirtek as well, good run.

 

[TyrrellRacing]

Plato has been penalised, Jackson DQ'd for Turbo issues. Shedden gets R3 win.

Wow I went to the race, came home a few minutes ago and checked this thread wondering what the view was of the Plato incident. Then I saw this. I don't know what to say ... Didn't know anything about DQ's.

Such a good battle at that race. I was so chuffed when Jackson won. Total shock.

 

[Famine]

I'll just leave this here:

 

[TyrrellRacing]

I expected that from Plato. Couldn't really tell from where I was standing but if the boos and Shedden's reaction on the podium were anything to go by then it clearly wasn't perfect.

Jackson's DQ came as more of a shock.

 

[Prince.M5]

I just watched the race. It was 🤬 from Plato, really. I didn't see Shedden braking too early and didn't see Plato locking up either... He's just talking nonsense and I think he actually deserve more than a 2-second penalty.

 

[homeforsummer]

Likely the boost pressure was too high. Big shame for Jackson... If there's a driver on the grid that isn't BMW powered that I'd like to see winning, it's Mat. Rules is rules though I guess.

Sheddon gets two wins this weekend then.

Not so keen on Mat myself. He's another like Plato and Neal that I can't trust not to take someone off the circuit to pass them. I'm not sure whether he's done any dodgy moves this year so far but there were plenty last year.

-Tony Gilham
-Jeff Smith
-Dave Newsham

Reminds me - I've just seen via Twitter that the three of them have all got various fines and/or penalties for contact at Donington.

Chris James also got 5 penalty points and a £1000 fine for various incidents. Quelle surprise. James is more and more striking me as just a chav with a bit of money. Can't control himself out on the circuit, and his twitter insults of various drivers the other week were hugely out of order.

 

[Famine]

Not so keen on Mat myself. He's another like Plato and Neal that I can't trust not to take someone off the circuit to pass them. I'm not sure whether he's done any dodgy moves this year so far but there were plenty last year.

There were two in race one. One was Mat Jackson push-to-passing Plato, which I suggested at the time might light the cock touchpaper - and Plato used as justification in that interview after race three. The other was another idiotic three-car multishunt at the final chicane on the last lap.

 

[homeforsummer]

There were two in race one. One was Mat Jackson push-to-passing Plato, which I suggested at the time might light the cock touchpaper - and Plato used as justification in that interview after race three. The other was another idiotic three-car multishunt at the final chicane on the last lap.

Ah yes, of course. I'd forgotten about the race one incident. Clearly does things like that so often they all blur into one...

 

[TheCracker]

I just watched the race. It was 🤬 from Plato, really. I didn't see Shedden braking too early and didn't see Plato locking up either... He's just talking nonsense and I think he actually deserve more than a 2-second penalty.

Shedden looked far from 'braking too early' into the chicane. In fact, if they'd been a few yards closer to Jackson, Potato Plato would have push Shedden into the back of him too.

 

[Prince.M5]

Shedden looked far from 'braking too early' into the chicane. In fact, if they'd been a few yards closer to Jackson, Potato Plato would have push Shedden into the back of him too.

Exactly. Plato have to learn from this. I mean, he needs to learn how to respect others otherwise I don't see people respecting him anymore.

His close on Collard was also, to me very harsh.

 

[ASH32]

Exactly. Plato have to learn from this. I mean, he needs to learn how to respect others otherwise I don't see people respecting him anymore.

His close on Collard was also, to me very harsh.

That's part of the problem. When Plato actually races clean, which does happen sometimes, you can bet someone will end up punting him off and getting away with it, which with Plato will definitely lead to him doing it to someone else because he gets wound up very easily.

Race one he was punt passed by Jackson meaning his probable first place turned into fourth. Race two he was hit by Neal at least a couple of times which eventually led to Neal getting passed and it looked like he was going to lose a few places again because of it, so he stupidly tried to block/force off the road Collard, which ended his race. You can bet by the time race three started he was pretty wound up hence the punt pass on Shedden for which he was rightly punished to give Shedden the place back.

Right now the BTCC has become too much of a punt to pass circus, with very little skill needed and that is mainly because penalities are not properly or equally enforced and have not been for years. Even easy to spot jump starts went unpunished at Brands.👎

 

[Prince.M5]

In the touring car world, tap to pass I think is owkey because I have seen many done that and I'm very sure Plato have done the same thing too. But the problem here is, he should not punt people off the track in order to gain that position. Losing position is fine I think because I'm pretty sure, he knows that this is touring car and it's all close racing. He can surely think what he should and shouldn't do on the track...

I know, Plato can race clean and no doubt he is very talented behind the wheel, doesn't matter what car is being thrown at him. I just hope he really learned something from this.

I have to agree about the improperly enforced penalties. Even there were jump starts at Donington, one of them being Onslow-Cole in Race 2. It was obvious the car jerked a bit but the stewards didn't take it into consideration at all. I am a BMW fan but a mistake is a mistake and they should take that into consideration.

 

[ASH32]

Yes a little tap is fine every now and again but using the car in front as a brake to pass shouldn't be allowed. I just think that if they made the person who did it give the place back straight away, even if that means them losing three or four places, it might not happen as much.

 

[TheCracker]

I think the arrival of NGTC cars will unfortunately mean more of this kind of driving. Giving relatively low-powered cars more grip and tyres that don't appear to 'drop-off' within a race distance, can only lead to more desperation behind the wheel as braking distances shorten and apex speeds quicken. Traditional out-braking passes will become harder and harder to achieve.

 

[homeforsummer]

I think the arrival of NGTC cars will unfortunately mean more of this kind of driving. Giving relatively low-powered cars more grip and tyres that don't appear to 'drop-off' within a race distance, can only lead to more desperation behind the wheel as braking distances shorten and apex speeds quicken. Traditional out-braking passes will become harder and harder to achieve.

Agreed. Though it was cracking seeing people who didn't need to bump to pass - Wrathall made a couple of excellent dives down the inside of people into the Old Hairpin, and the car just stuck.

 

[TheCracker]

It's not too bad at the moment with S2000 cars, some of which are RWD, mixing it with the NGTC's - as it was last year with the turbo and non turbo cars. It gives some variety to the pros and cons of running a certain car - which to me is the cornerstone of a good touring car series. I'd have thought that by the end of this year, and certainly by next, the NGTC cars will be winning everything.

Rob Austin is pretty brave to run the Audi as RWD, but i don't think it's the way forward for NGTC. I'm pretty sure FWD will prove to be the better layout.

 

[homeforsummer]

Rob Austin is pretty brave to run the Audi as RWD, but i don't think it's the way forward for NGTC. I'm pretty sure FWD will prove to be the better layout.

I expect so. I reckon the BMWs are doing okay considering they're running to the S2000 rules, and have narrower tyres. They're a little lighter as I understand it, but then RWD S2000 cars were heavier than their front-drive equivalents, so traction off the grid aside I expect they're fighting quite a battle...

 

[hornet_burnout]

Plato up to his bad antics again I see... :/

Gonna try and see if I can find and watch the whole thing.

edit:
If you missed or don't get/can't see it, like me, here you go:

Race1:


Race2:


Race3:


Enjoy 👍

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

Well I thought that it was for things like that, that people love BTCC. I love to watch it because of that, it's fierce, hard race, which make it even more valuable for the drivers and the spectators. I never thought it would get a penalty for that but it's life. Anyway it was 3 good race, I enjoyed them very much.