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Plato on Pole Position at Snetterton

'Turkington will lead the way'

Sutton

Jason Plato has qualified on pole position for the first of tomorrow's three British Touring Car Championship races at the Snetterton circuit.

Jason Plato, currently fourth in the standings, set a best lap of 1m12.247s in his Racing Silverline Chevrolet Lacetti to secure pole position - and with it a bonus point. However, second on the grid will be current series leader Colin Turkington in his Team RAC BMW and Plato is tipping the Northern Irishman to take the lead away from the start.

Oxford's Plato said: "Colin's BMW has rear-wheel-drive and we all know what that can do off the start. He will be in front of me pretty quickly...unless we tangle."

Turkington added: "The front row is just perfect for me - my car's carrying maximum success ballast but we're still right up there. Sure I hope I can use my car's traction off the start to good advantage but I don't think anyone will get away around here. I'm sure Jason will be right in my slipstream when we head onto that long back straight..."

James Thompson and Andrew Jordan were the next two fastest drivers to make it four different makes of car in the top four. VXR's reigning Champion, the Italian Fabrizio Giovanardi, was fifth and Jonathan Adam sixth in his Airwaves BMW. Meanwhile, Matt Neal, second to Turkington in the standings, qualified ninth fastest in his Vauxhall Vectra. Initially he had set the fourth fastest time but that was annulled as he had missed out a section of track. It leaves him hoping he can make up positions tomorrow in order to keep in touch with Turkington at the top of the table.

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