3) 2001 – Plato survives soggy showdown
The finale to the 2001 season was a classic seat-of-the-pants conclusion that will live long in the memory of BTCC fans, and very much long in the memory of Jason Plato for a positive reason this time, grabbing a famous first series title at this venue on a sodden Sunday at Brands Hatch.
The season had been a straight fight between works Vauxhall team-mates Plato and Yvan Muller, a fight that turned heated both off and on the track at times and had begun to boil over politically after several altercations in the increasingly competitive races towards the season conclusion.
The weather did not greet the final pair of races kindly as the track was a washout almost, leading to an amazing first win for MG in the trusty hands of Anthony Reid. Then came the final round; it was a tense one, the championship contenders starting on row two.
Phil Bennett was the first obstacle they had to face, and both forced their way by the Astra, Muller now second and Plato third. The championship was then turned on its head when Plato lost it at Surtees and narrowly avoided the barriers, Muller at the same time making a move on Warren Hughes for the lead.
Advantage the Frenchman, but Plato recovered to the track quickly. Then suddenly the scenario changed once again in its dying laps.
As Plato recovered through the field, a safety car was deployed, this being great news for the Brit as this bunched them back together. Plato’s situation was improved even further in more dramatic style, when Muller’s Astra started billowing flames from underneath its front end.
A lap later, Muller parked his blazing car at the bottom of Paddock Hill Bend, and that was that. Plato only needed to get it to the flag, and he did exactly that to claim the championship.
Like 2007, it was another classic example of heartache and relief, one that could repeat that could be repeated again this weekend…
