Tuesday 7th April 2009

Video: Plato's Perfect Powerslide

Awesome save by superstar racer gives Chevy a BTCC win

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If you think you need rear wheel drive to execute a perfect powerslide, check out this clip of Jason Plato saving the Chevy Lacetti Touring Car from certain disaster at Brands Hatch at the weekend.

After taking a nudge on the rear three-quarter, Plato found the back of his Lacetti Touring Car rapidly trying to overtake the front on the entry to Brands’ famous Paddock Hill corner. We doubt if a road-going Lacetti could have been recovered, but the racer has enough grunt to break traction at the front wheels as Plato floored the throttle. With all of the racer’s limited opposite-lock wound in, the resultant front wheel drift kept the car on the track. In the post-race interview Plato attributes the amazing save to a sex ban his missus had threatened if he didn’t win…

[Adrian Gumball]

Fantastic driving. Hopefully he will compete over the year.

[simonparky]

that was one hell of a save

[Killer2005]

[Chris49]

Just brilliant!

[DamoLLb]

nicely done!






I would like to see an interior camera shot however

Edited by DamoLLb on Tuesday 7th April 10:15

[CK_N4S]

Anyone still in doubt over his driving capabilities from the Journalist thread, should be calming down by now

CK

[TVR 26S]

beef

[fullbeem]

Impressive especially in a Daewoo

[simonparky]

that was one hell of a save

[FWDRacer]

Nowt special. All FWD cars can recover from some pretty sideways stuff. Trick is that you just don't lift... Keeping it absolutely buried + opposite lock pulls the nose round.

[dazsmith69]

class!

[Mr E]

It's not really a powerslide though is it.

It's a "been-nerfed-going-sideways-WOT-to-save-it" slide, or similar.

Still a fantastic save, and a great drive following it. The Lecetti looked *very* twitchy for the last 8 laps or so.

Hope he gets some funding to do the next round.

[raharley]

anyone got a link to the vid so I can watch at work? ie non youtube?

[VXT Tim]

He actually finished second.

[OJ]

FWDRacer said:

Nowt special. All FWD cars can recover from some pretty sideways stuff. Trick is that you just don't lift... Keeping it absolutely buried + opposite lock pulls the nose round.

Pretty much what I thought, not to say that Plato isn't a good driver though... car control wise anyway

[agentsmith]

VXT Tim said:

He actually finished second.

the stewards did penalise him after the flag...."Adam went through to take the chequered flag in his BMW but was later penalised four seconds for the incident, which dropped him to second. "

[thompp]

Just been watching the highlights - fantastic piece of driving to save that.

[Dr Imran T]

Great save indeed. Brands is a superb circuit, seen loads of crazy incidents on the approach to that particular corner

[FNG]

FWDRacer said:

Nowt special. All FWD cars can recover from some pretty sideways stuff. Trick is that you just don't lift... Keeping it absolutely buried + opposite lock pulls the nose round.

Fair point most of the time, but this time his rear wheels were clear of the road, and he was almost perpendicular to direction of travel while going down Paddock Hill, which is an impressive corner at the best of times.

I agree with the majority on this one, outstanding save.

[VXT Tim]

agentsmith said:

VXT Tim said:

He actually finished second.

the stewards did penalise him after the flag...."Adam went through to take the chequered flag in his BMW but was later penalised four seconds for the incident, which dropped him to second. "

Cheers for the update.

Bit harsh, only light contact, dramatic result.

If this were the case for all "touches" Matt Neal would finish last in all of his races!!!