Jason Plato (Photo Credit: btcc.net)
Jason Plato's double win at Brands Hatch has been named the HiQ Champagne Moment for the meeting.
The decision adds to the reigning champion's history of picking up the award, which is voted for by BTCC fans. When he collects his bottle of champagne for winning fan Rae Akehurst at Brands Hatch it will mark the second time he has taken home HiQ bubbly, having previously won after the Donington Park meeting when he came back from a race two barrel roll at the Craner Curves to score potentially valuable points in race three.
Plato had also won the award for a performance at Brands Hatch before, for his three race sweep of the event on the Grand Prix circuit in 2009.
For his latest award Plato collected 45% of the vote, with title rival Matt Neal in second with 23%.
Akehurst is the latest fan winner to be picked at random and win not only a bottle of champagne themselves but also the honour of presenting one to the winning driver before embarking on a post race grid walk amongst the British Touring Car field.
“I love Jason and think he was great at Brands,” she said. “He was consistent throughout the weekend and kept the championship well and truly alive.”
“It will be a dream come true to meet him on Sunday.”
“Our champagne moment awards have been a resounding success again this season,” said HiQ's retail marketing manager Geraldine McGovern. “We have crowned some wonderful winners this season thanks to the fans' involvement.”
“We hope they will be voting one more time once the dust has settled at Silverstone. We can't wait!”
The double win has left Plato second in the title chase with just the three races at Silverstone remaining. He lies just five points behind championship leader Neal, and is tied with Gordon Shedden. Mat Jackson and James Nash will also start the weekend with a mathematical chance of taking the title.
