BRITISH TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP

OXFORD’S Jason Plato feels that this weekend’s round two venue Donington Park is the ideal track for his reworked MG6 car.

The KX Clubcard Fuel Save driver comes into the second round of the 2014 campaign in fifth place in the standings, following mixed success in the season opener at Brands Hatch last month.

Podium finishes in the first and third races sandwiched a disappointing 14th-placed finish in the second race after stalling on the grid.

Plato suffered technical problems throughout the 2013 season and finished the season in fifth – his lowest since 2000.

That prompted changes to the car during the winter and despite suffering further problems in last month’s season opener, Plato and leader Andrew Jordan are separated by just nine points.

Two-time champion Plato is confident those adjustments will prove important as he seeks to close that gap this weekend.

“Everyone is motivated after Brands,” he said.

“The team is confident coming into this weekend and the new aero package and dampers will come into effect more here.

“The faster circuits like Donington and Thruxton should see us get better and better.

“The championship is looking great this year and I’m looking forward to another competitive weekend.”

SAM Brabham, from Sibford Ferris near Banbury, hopes to improve on a shaky start to his MSA Formula Ford campaign, also at Donington Park.

The 19-year-old, son of former Formula 1 driver David Brabham and grandson of ex-world champion Jack, failed to finish race one at Brands Hatch, but came ninth in the second and third in the final encounter.

That left him in ninth position with 36 points, 43 behind leader Jayde Kruger.

CHIPPING Norton’s Fergus Walkinshaw competes in the Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup, having finished 12th in the opening round at Brands Hatch.