Jason Plato has taken pole position at Knockhill for his Adrian Flux Subaru Racing team after a dramatic wet to dry qualifying session.
The pole is the fiftieth of his career and comes after a difficult first half of the season for the former champion. Things had improved at Snetterton but this is the first time he has taken a pole this season.
The track started out completely wet after a heavy shower during the previous Ginetta race but the sun soon came out and with all thirty cars on track the surface started drying rapidly leading to a frantic “shoot out” for pole in the final ten minutes after all the drivers switched to slicks.
Ash Sutton had looked set for pole before Plato just edged him on his final flying lap but it gave Subaru a one-two on the grid. Just behind them are the BMWs of Rob Collard and Colin Turkington, Collard having a strong qualifying, something which he has admitted had been a weakness in the past.
Tom Ingram was fifth on the grid in his Speedworks Toyota despite having visibility issues with his Avensis windscreen steaming up. Alongside Ingram is the third of the Adrian Flux Subarus, James Cole having his best qualifying so far.
Senna Proctor claimed seventh after some spectacular laps which saw him right up on two wheels as he flew through the chicane. Dave Newsham was next up at a track where he often goes well, it was the place he had his last podium when he put the AMD Focus into third place in 2014. Newsham had actually been on pole for part of the session but dropped down as the times tumbled in the drying conditions.
Gordon Shedden took ninth, a good result given he is carrying maximum success ballast. Completing the top ten was Adam Morgan in the Cicely Mercedes.
Rory Butcher was twenty fifth on his debut for Motorbase as he takes over from the inured Luke Davenport. The car was only finished in the week leading up to the event and the weekend is being treated as an extended test session. Butcher is the brother of Shedden’s wife Gillian.
.2017 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship – Qualifying – Knockhill
1 Jason PLATO (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing 52.579s (86.74mph)|
2 Ashley SUTTON (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.089s
3 Colin TURKINGTON (GBR) Team BMW +0.333s
4 Rob COLLARD (GBR) Team BMW +0.625s
5 Tom INGRAM (GBR) Speedworks Motorsport +0.694s
6 James COLE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +0.781s
7 Senna PROCTOR (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +0.792s
8 Dave NEWSHAM (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +0.897s
9 Gordon SHEDDEN (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +0.908s
10 Adam MORGAN (GBR) Ciceley Motorsport +0.928s
11 Josh COOK (GBR) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +1.058s
12 Mat JACKSON (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1.060s
13 Ant WHORTON-EALES (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +1.064s
14 Aron TAYLOR-SMITH (IRL) MG Racing RCIB Insurance +1.157s
15 Jack GOFF (GBR) Eurotech Racing +1.197s
16 Jake HILL (GBR) TAG Racing +1.257s
17 Andrew JORDAN (GBR) BMW Pirtek Racing +1.264s
18 Tom CHILTON (GBR) Power Maxed Racing +1.278s
19 Josh PRICE (GBR) Adrian Flux Subaru Racing +1.280s
20 Stephen JELLEY (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +1.370s
21 Matt NEAL (GBR) Halfords Yuasa Racing +1.378s
22 Matt SIMPSON (GBR) Simpson Racing +1.477s
23 Rob AUSTIN (GBR) Handy Motorsport +1.681s
24 Chris SMILEY (GBR) BTC Norlin Racing +1.705s
25 Rory BUTCHER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +1.915s
26 Will BURNS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +1.919s
27 Aiden MOFFAT (GBR) Laser Tools Racing +2.060s
28 Michael EPPS (GBR) Autoaid/RCIB Insurance Racing +2.151s
29 Brett SMITH (GBR) Eurotech Racing +2.356s
30 Ollie JACKSON (GBR) AmDtuning.com with Cobra Exhausts +2.591s
31 Martin DEPPER (GBR) Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo +2.860s
32 Stewart LINES (GBR) Team Parker with Maximum Motorsport +4.460s
STOP PRESS: Plato is under investigation for a yellow flag incident on his flying lap. We’lll bring you more news when it occurs. Like our Facebook page for any updates. By Marc Waller
