Burning Rubber

May 27 2007 By Zoe Burn, The Sunday Sun

Plato bans alcohol in prep for Croft

He's always been a loose cannon and a bit of a fun-loving guy, but Jason Plato has placed himself on a strict alcohol ban this week ahead of his `home' round of the British Touring Car Championship at Croft next weekend.

The honorary Geordie - who grew up, attended school and learnt to race a kart here in the North - currently leads the championship and has ruled out any partying with pals this week in a bid to remain focused for Sunday's race.

While no stranger to a good time, the 39-year-old has been known to meet up with friends in Newcastle for a swift pint or two in the days leading up to the event, but this year he has revealed he is staying strictly tee-total.

"The night life in Newcastle is phenomenal and maybe if I was staying in town on the Wednesday night in the past, I'd meet up with a few pals for a quick jar," he said. "These days though I keep my mind completely clear, even if the race weekend doesn't start until three days later.

"Sadly, I'm not in my early 20s any more and you start finding that the effects can last with you for more than a day. Maybe on the Sunday night if we've had a win or two, but not in the week."

He may not be heading back to party, but he is looking forward to getting to grips with the challenging North Yorkshire circuit.

"I'm very passionate about the North East and miss it dearly," he added. "I love racing at Croft. It's a great track, the people are fantastic. We get a tremendous welcome whenever we come back up there."

Tickets to see the BTCC in action at Croft on June 3 cost £25 on the gate or can be booked on Croft's website www.croftcircuit.co.uk or by calling (01325) 721815. Admission for accompanied children aged 15 and under is free.

Prices include free access to the BTCC paddock and the hugely popular Pit Lane Walkabout when the public, including children, are invited into the Croft pit lane to meet the drivers for autographs and give-aways.

And if you're reading JP, Burning Rubber will be looking forward to you getting the beers in after a couple of wins next weekend!

Simon's highlight

NEXT week's Croft showdown will also be the highlight of privateer Simon Blanckley's season, as it also marks his local round.

The County Durham-based driver, who runs his own Sibsport outfit, will contest his first ever BTCC round at the track, and with a lot of experience there, hopes are high he will leave with a hefty haul of points.

"I know the track really well, I've been there countless times," he said. "This should give me an advantage so you never know what we could achieve.

"I'm really looking forward to it and I'll be putting my all into getting the best result we can in all three races on Sunday. Croft is a great track as it's so technical and every corner is a different challenge.

"The esses out at the back of the circuit are fantastic for getting your adrenaline pumping, but I also like the final series of slower turns at the complex, which I know aren't universally popular amongst other drivers.

"It's going to be an interesting weekend because the first few corners are quite tight and twisty so I wouldn't be surprised if there are fewer cars on track by the end of the first lap than started it."

• And finally, a big happy birthday to Teesside's Paul Veazey - who rides for my team, Krystal Racing Space Air, in the National Superstock Championship - and turns 21 on Tuesday.