Jason Plato secured two podium finishes in the opening round of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton.

The Oxford driver finished runner-up in the first race, and third in the final heat, with 2007 and 2008 champion Fabrizio Giovanardi claiming two victories.

Debutant Steven Kane won the third race.

Plato was fortunate to come second in the opening heat, being promoted after the two Honda cars both failed to finish when well-placed.

Plato then made the most of his front row starting position in the second, holding the runners-up berth for most of the 16-lap encounter. But he then spun on the penultimate lap, and came home fourth.

In the final race of the day, Plato cruised home in third.

Plato was happy with his two podium finishes that give him second place in the standings as the teams head to Rockingham in three weeks’ time.

“Our plan was to adopt a very conservative approach with the car,” he said. “It’s not worth taking any risks at this stage of the season.”