Jason Plato will reclaim his spot on the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) grid after a 12-month sabbatical, having retained his seat with Power Maxed Car Care Racing.
Power Maxed ran a single Vauxhall Astra as an independent entry for the disrupted 2020 season after 98-time race winner Plato dropped out to focus his resources on the 2021 campaign. It will return to fielding a two-car entry this year but has yet to confirm its second driver.
Two-time champion Plato, who hasn't raced since winning the last event of the 2019 season, has competed in the BTCC almost constantly since 1997, taking a break in 2002 and 2003 to compete in stock car racing.
The 53-year-old hopes to achieve his landmark 100th victory with Power Maxed in the 2021 season and will make his 600th race start when the first round gets under way at Thruxton.
Plato said: “Obviously 2020 was less than ideal for many of us, but it gave me time to put a lot of things into perspective.
“I was lucky enough to be able to spend a lot more time than I normally would at home with the family, but I’m itching to get back in a race car now. It’s the longest I’ve been without racing, and it’s made me appreciate just how much I love it, and I've really missed my team.
“I’m excited about the future with Power Maxed Car Care Racing; winning the final race in 2019 has lit a fire underneath me, so I’m more than ready to get back out and win my 100th race.”
The 2021 BTCC season will begin later than planned, on 8 May, but is set to still run a 30-race calendar across 10 events.
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Fascinated to know why BTCC teams mostly elect to drop the brand name.....as here - 'Power Maxed Car Care Racing' - how do you know this is Vauxhall?
13 of the 16 teams have no mention of the car brand in their team name, which is frustrating for an occaisional viewer like me....the race finishes, the results of the finishing order are displayed, and I have absolutely no idea which car finished where (except for 3 teams). I cant be the only one.
I am sure that dyed in the wool BTCC racing fans are tut, tutting at this, but this is a big turn-off to casual viewers.
I still think the B in BTCC stands for bangers.....it certainly has the look of 'posh' banger racing, or demolution derby.
Wonder how many young talented drivers with no money have missed out on a drive
@ xxxx ... if you mean because of Plato xxxx, the answer to your question is one!
@289 simple maths really one in one out. In general oaps are stopping up and coming drivers. Here is another one for you matt neal 54 in last yeats btcc.
I think he's missed it, the racing, but there's been a lot of fresh, young talent come along, I hope it isn't Alonso syndrome, coming back just to get that one more title, one more win, a hundred race wins.