F1 Fanatic

@robk23 – I would have done it first, but I had work! You sneaky little sod :P haha..

Anyway:
WRATHALL ON POLE AMID QUALIFYING SESSION SHOCKS
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Frank Wrathall took his first ever pole position in the BTCC today, by just 0.015 of a second from Jason Plato, to become one of 4 drivers in the top 8 to score their best ever qualifying performances. Adam Morgan and Dan Welch had their best performances in 5th and 6th respectively while Lea Wood equalled his best ever result in 8th. Plato’s Championship rivals, the two Honda drivers Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden, endured poor sessions however in 7th and last respectively. Shedden never actually made a lap however after his car caught fire in the first session, and wasn’t repaired in time.

PLATO CLAIMS EASY WIN IN FIRST RACE
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Jason Plato claimed an easy victory in the opening race of the Snetterton weekend after getting a better start than pole-sitter Frank Wrathall. Wrathall got a somewhat sluggish start and was also passed by third placed Dave Newsham. Adam Morgan spun from 5th on the opening lap and 2 laps later had a coming together with BTCC newcomer Robb Holland, pitching the latter onto the tyre barrier at turn 1. This brought out the Safety Car for 4 laps as the car was removed and the barrier mended and on the restart Newsham tried to go around the outside of Plato at turn 1. He was forced wide and this gave Wrathall a chance to move back into second. The race stalled then until the final lap when Newsham and Jordan squabbled over 3rd. Jordan hit Newsham pushing him wide and took the place, before the latter powered back past on the straight. Jordan then pushed Newsham off again, taking third and holding it to the flag. Newsham commented after the race: ‘I didn’t think he’d find a way past clean. And he didn’t. Twice he hit me square in the back and pushed me straight on. I don’t think that’s overtaking, that’s no skill involved in there, just using me as a brake and pushing me past the corner. Hopefully the officials will look at that and reverse it. I don’t want him to get kicked out, or points on his license, I just want that place back because I think I deserve that.’

EDIT: Newsham has been Disqualified for having an underweight car.

There’s been some great racing today and we have another new winner in Dave Newsham. The NGTC Focus has had a fairly good debut, would’ve got a podium in the final race had Mat Jackson not had an off.

A bit of a shame about the Neal/Plato incident in the second race but Andy Jordan and Gordon Shedden took full advantage of it, did the stewards reach a conclusion regarding that incident?

It would seem like Plato had to brake and Neal didn’t as he could clearly carry more speed through the corners. I don’t understand the second bit though, not that it did either of them any favours.

Here’s the Plato/Neal incident – bit silly from both of them to be honest, though Plato’s retaliation was quite blatant:

@ajokay Done!

Here’s the Plato/Neal incident – bit silly from both of them to be honest, though Plato’s retaliation was quite blatant

Between that, the last NASCAR lap at the Glen and Vettel’s off-track excusrion at Germany, I have to ask … does anyone realise they are supposed to stay on the circuit these days?