JASON Plato benefitted from two of misfortune elsewhere during the final race at Knockhill to boost hopes of climbing the British Touring Car Championship standings before the end of the season.

Fourth and seventh-placed finishes in the first two rounds at the Scottish circuit saw the Oxford driver, who went into the weekend fifth in the championship, lose ground.

But the MG KX Momentum driver took advantage of a double mishap in the third race.

Gordon Shedden retired with engine failure, while Colin Turkington – winner of the first two races – was disqualified for a technical infringement.

The problems saw Plato promoted up to fifth place, closing the gap once more.

The 45-year-old stays fifth, but is now 27 points behind Shedden in third, with nine races remaining.

A tilt at the overall title remains just a slim hope, but leader Matt Neal is wary of the two-time champion.

He said: “I said before this weekend that Turkington could be the one to watch and we’d all be foolish to discount Plato too.”

Banbury’s Will Bratt saved his best for the last race, guiding his Audi to tenth.

He had earlier had a 20th place finish and a retirement.

The next round is at Rockingham on September 15.

STANDINGS 1 M Neal 293pts, 2 A Jordan 287, 3 G Shedden 266, 4 C Turkington 263, 5 J Plato 239, 6 S Tordoff 197, 7 A Morgan 180, 8 A Smith 126, 9 M Jackson 119, 10 J Smith 116.