Commentating legend expects Plato and Turner to shine.
Murray Walker, the voice of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship during the late 1980s and 1990s, has predicted a strong weekend for SEAT pairing Jason Plato and Darren Turner as the series heads to Thruxton this weekend for the fourth round of the year.
Plato took his first win of the season in the opening race at Donington Park last time out, with Turner then repeating the feat with a near lights-to-flag success in the final race of the weekend - marking the most successful weekend to date for the diesel-powered Leon entered by the works SEAT Sport team this season.
However, Plato and Turner are amongst seven drivers to have won races this season with nine races run and with the championship being wide open heading to the Hampshire venue, Walker predicted a nail-biting weekend of racing.
"Everyone likes to see wheel-to-wheel battles for race victories and championship points and with Britain's Jason Plato, who of course drives a diesel-powered Spanish SEAT, and Vauxhall's Italian Fabrizio Giovanardi heading a host of spectacular and ambitious rivals there will be plenty of opportunities for partisan support from what is sure to be a very big crowd," he said.
"But don't expect Jason and Fabrizio automatically to rule the roost, for one slip by either of them will open the door for any of their many talented opponents. Double Champion Matt Neal in his Vauxhall, Darren Turner in his diesel SEAT, plus BMW-mounted Mat Jackson and Colin Turkington are just four of them and there are plenty of others!
"Having said that I'd forecast a likely win for Jason Plato at Thruxton. With years of experience there he knows the circuit and after his first win of the season he is hungry for more. Now that his powerful diesel SEAT is up to speed it should have the grunt that is needed to see off his rivals at super-fast Thruxton, but watch his SEAT team-mate Turner too."
F1 legend Walker added that spectators heading to Thruxton this weekend should be ready for action at the quickest circuit on the calendar - and one Walker rates amongst his favourites.
"The BTCC at Thruxton is special because it has a long tradition of incredibly exciting, panel-bashing racing featuring greats like John Cleland, Steve Soper, Andy Rouse, Frank Biela, Jo Winkelhock, Alain Menu and Matt Neal," he said. "Thruxton is the fastest track in Britain which is in regular use and, as such, makes unique demands on both the cars and the drivers. The Campbell/Cobb/Segrave complex of corners, named after past British world land speed record holders, is a great place to watch, both at the circuit itself and on TV.
"The notorious bump at Church corner, the long, flat out dash down to the chicane and the chicane itself also all offer superb opportunities to revel in the driving skills of the competitors in the world's top national touring car championship.
"I would certainly recommend Thruxton to would-be spectators for all the above reasons, but also because it is easy to get to, has ample parking space and because the elevated spectator banks offer excellent vantage points."
