OXFORD’S Jason Plato was on the podium twice in the opening two rounds of the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch, but could not get past defending champion Andrew Jordan.

MG KX Clubcard Fuel Save driver Plato was second in the opening race, just 0.536secs behind Jordan, 14th in the second and third in the final race, setting the fastest lap of the day.

Pirtek Racing’s Jordan made a superb start to his title defence with two victories.

The eBay Motors BMW of Colin Turkington took the honours in the final race at the Kent circuit.

Plato said: “We were the quickest car on the soft tyres in the last race.

“I didn’t have weight on, which helped me pick my way through the field, but it was great racing.

“I actually wanted to have a go for the lead, but Matt Neal knows how to drive a wide line and he does it very well.”

Just nine points separate five drivers after the opening weekend.

The next three rounds are at Donington Park over the Easter weekend, April 19 & 20.

* SAM Brabham, from Sibford Ferris, near Banbury, finished third in the final race at the opening MSA Formula Ford event at Brands.

The 19-year-old failed to finish race one, but hit back to grab ninth place in the second and third in the last to leave him ninth overall in the standings with 36 points.