Jason Plato at Brands Hatch

[Yin Yang]

This thread should have been started long ago. Simply put, was Jason Plato guilty of crashing Newsham or not? Give your side of the story and how you saw it happen. Also, it would be nice to hear discussion about if the penalty was necessary or not. Have at 'em, boys!

Personally, I think he is not guilty of causing a wreck. He could have made the corner easily if Newsham wasn't there. He had the line and was committed since the start/finish line. Newsham could have seen him coming in at high speed and gone wider, maybe challenging him up into Druids. Part of this thing is respect for a double-time champion of BTCC. You got to respect the guy. Newsham is entitled to his opinions, but I do believe experience definitely comes into a factor here. To back up my statement, I need to remind you of 2011 Brands Hatch Race 1, when Gordon Shedden pushed Paul O'Neill, Tom Boardman, and who knows else out of the way through heavy force. He did not get a penalty. So why would Jason get a penalty for something that was 80% Newsham's fault?

I do understand the two sides to this story: Jason whinges a lot about how he always gets pushed around. But that was then and this is now; I never think it prudent to take those points and make them the centerpiece of your argument.

[Tixy54]

I think that Mr Plato should have backed off and tried again at a later opportunity. There was no gap there, at some point Dave Newsham has to turn the corner. Forget the fact that Mr Plato is a two-time BTCC champion, Dave Newsham is a very experienced race driver and didn't do anything wrong except be in the way of what I consider to be bully tactics. Mr Plato's car was, maybe, faster than Dave Newshams and therefore other chances of a clean overtake would have presented themselves.

[Tixy54]

The poll at the top of this page is ambiguous, was Plato guilty or not, should he have been penalised or not. You can't ask two questions in a "yes/no" voting poll.

[Allyc85]

Er its been a long day and ive voted no, but meant to say yes, he was guilty!

Plato made a gap by using the pit exit, and Newsham was already busy with another car to his side. The way Plato let Jordan past so easily at the same corner in rcae 2 was very cute