BTCC

Motorbase Boss Bites Back Over Plato Comments

2 Mins read

Motorbase Performance boss David Bartrum has hit back at Jason Plato following the MG driver’s comments after Knockhill, labelling him a hypocrite for criticising other racers’ driving standards.

Plato and Redstone Racing‘s Aron Smith made contact in race one which ended the two-time BTCC champions race, setting him up for a torrid time in Scotland.

It led MG KX Momentum Racing‘s lead driver to threaten to do all he could to see Smith getting the correct punishment, telling Autosport he’d “take it to the MSA tribunal and beyond” and that it was either a deliberate attempt to take him out or an accident – in which case “he needs to have his licence taken away”.

Now, Bartrum used the Motorbase blog to respond to the comments made.

“Jason is supposed to represent British Motorsport,” he wrote, “in two roles even beyond his role in the BTCC with MG & 888. He is the face of the KX young driver programme mentoring young aspiring drivers & has a major role at the BRDC as a Director.

“Yet despite all of this he remains the most outspoken, shouting his mouth of to anyone who will listen about how badly everyone else drives! Sorry, am I missing something? Is this the same Jason Plato who rammed Matt Neal off in a fit of rage/revenge at Snetterton, the same Jason Plato who rammed Gordon Shedden off at the last corner of Donington after pushing him along the back straight whilst Gordon tried to brake, and the same Jason Plato who simply disposed of Dave Newsham disgracefully at the first race of the season? And that’s just this year.”

And Bartrum pulled no punches in response to Plato’s assertions that Smith’s license should be revoked, before praising the youngster for how he handled the entire affair.

“He suggested Aron doesn’t deserve a race licence. Quite frankly, he is the man who needs banning from the championship. Why TOCA didn’t give him points for his revenge mission at Snetterton on Matt Neal is anybodies guess! Probably because he has so many points already. MG & his sponsors should think twice before renewing his contract if he continues to behave like this. He makes damning statements that other teams and drivers are merely ‘playing at this’ and we’re just ‘pretenders’ unlike the paid professional drivers.”

“I’m extremely impressed with the way Aron has handled himself throughout this. He has definately come across as the more mature and controlled driver in all of this.

“Aron hasn’t come from nowhere, he is backed by Motorsport Ireland due to his recent achievements prior to this year and he is a star of the future, of that we have no doubt. Motorbase Performance are young in comparison to the likes of 888, Dynamics & WSR but we are not pretenders either.”

Related posts
BTCC

Ash Sutton regains BTCC Drivers' Championship with rampant race one win at Brands Hatch

2 Mins read
Imperious Ash Sutton took the BTCC Drivers’ title for a fourth time in the first race at Brands Hatch GP finishing off an incredible season.
BTCC

Turkington tops Silverstone reverse grid race with 150th race win for BMW

2 Mins read
Four-time BTCC champion, Colin Turkington may be all but out of the BTCC Drivers’ Championship hunt, but concluded Silverstone with a milestone…
BTCC

Sutton seals mind blowing Silverstone win from 23rd on the grid

2 Mins read
Ash Sutton is at it again in a drive that may have just sealed another BTCC Drivers’ Championship for the imperious NAPA…