Fifth Gear star rockets to the top
07 May 2007 Last time out we leant a hand with the Seat team to find out what really goes on at a race weekend behind closed doors. From fruit-based warfare to the stresses of scrutineering – Trackside’s Keith Collantine presents some of the stranger stories from the pit lane. Don’t try this at home Jason Plato is holding a home made rocket launcher. The racer and Fifth Gear presenter is using his new toy to fire oranges so high into the air you can’t see them any more. It’s Saturday evening and the Rockingham track is deserted except for the teams. While the mechanics repair and check the cars, Plato is providing some much-needed entertainment. To great applause, Plato fires the fruit from a chamber fashioned from a length of drainpipe, using aerosol shoe polish as fuel. I bet Fernando Alonso doesn’t do this sort of thing during Grands Prix weekends. Much less get his mum to join in. As Plato does.
The Seat team gets through 32 Dunlop racing tyres at each BTCC meeting. How do I know this? Because my job as ‘mechanic for a day’ was to clean them all I’m working behind the scenes at Seat’s team to get the real race day experience – whether it’s fruit-based WMDs or, in this case, proper grafting. I’d like to think the polished hubs were a vital part of the cars’ aerodynamics efficiency and the team’s success… Under pressure The mechanics are the foot soldiers of Seat Sport’s BTCC team – they’re every bit as competitive and dedicated as the drivers. After taking pole position for race one their car had to be checked by the scrutineers to ensure it complies with the rules. The chief surveyed the Leon with headmasterly authority as the mechanics patiently answered every question. The tiniest imperfection could have seen the car sent to the back of the grid and the weekend ruined. There was only a single moment of concern from the stewards when they couldn’t tell what a particular switch operated. It was found to control the rear wiper motor – not an essential part of a racing car – which had been discarded to save weight. A replacement was found, and the car passed fit to race. Race-mad mum and dad Jason’s parents are a story in themselves. Their 38-year-old son has hundreds of BTCC starts, 35 wins and a championship to his name. But they still come to all of his races. They’ve done this ever since Mr Plato accepted a racing kart in lieu of a bad debt, which Jason took to driving around the family’s garage. Now they watch his races from the pit lane with the team and Jason’s wife Sophie. Sophie said: “I don’t worry about him during the races – I just hope he gets the result he needs and comes home happy.” In a quiet moment before race three Jason’s mum walked up to the back of his Seat Leon racer and patted the “Plato” sticker. She said: “It’s just my little superstition.” It worked. Taste of victory After the first two races of the weekend are won by rivals Vauxhall, championship leader Plato was under pressure. The mechanics perched on the pit wall as the race started - cheering as Plato made a dream getaway from sixth on the grid to seize the lead. It’s such a good start they forgave him for side-swiping Turner’s car on the way through. Plato stormed home to win and cracked open a bottle of champagne in the direction of his delighted crew. A victory earned is a victory shared. Trackside video
A fan’s eye view of Jason Plato’s phenomenal start in race three. Auto Trader Links: Trackside - Britain beats Germany at home
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