Jason Plato is eyeing taking the lead in the title race as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship heads to Oulton Park this weekend.

The double champion is just 12 points off the lead after notching a 90th victory of his record-breaking career at Thruxton last month.

Since leaving MG, Plato has displayed good pace in the Team BMR VW CC, but has only enjoyed two wins.

It is something he is determined to improve on.

“I’ve got a great strike record round Oulton Park and it’s a circuit which I feel I’m really in tune with,” he said.

“Had we not had that puncture at Brands Hatch, we would be leading the championship, so we’ve got to try and claw them back. It’s a really key weekend for me, we need some wins.”

Drivers standings: 1 G Shedden (Honda Yuasa Racing) 114pts, 2 C Turkington (Team BMR) 106, 3 M Neal (Honda Yuasa Racing) 103, 4 J Plato (Team BMR) 102, 5 A Jordan (MG Triple Eight Racing) 99, 6 A Morgan (WIX Racing) 98.

Oxford’s Matt Chapman is eyeing a first podium finish in the Ginetta Junior Championship, part of the BTCC support package.

Although encountering a mixed start to his second season, last time out at ultra-fast Thruxton he produced his best result of the campaign as well as setting the fastest lap of the meeting.

The 15-year-old, who lies 12th in the championship standings, is hoping for improvement this weekend.

“Thruxton was definitely our most competitive weekend of the season and hopefully we can build on that”, he said.

“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be in the fight for the podium.”