JASON Plato is ready to battle for his third MSA British Tour Car Championship after maintaining his slender lead in the driver standings.

The 47-year-old, from Oxford, has had his advantage cut by five points to 11 after the eighth round at Knockhill.

Meanwhile, only 43 points separates Plato and seventh-placed Sam Tordoff.

After only qualifying 12th, the Team BMR driver sacrificed his first race, adding extra ballast in an attempt to set a fast lap for the second, finishing 23rd, before coming home seventh and sixth.

However, Plato, remains upbeat for the last three rounds at Rockingham (September 5-6), Silverstone (September 26-27) and Brands Hatch (October 10-11).

He said: “From where we were in qualifying it was a really good weekend.

“We’ve really rescued it – I’ve only lost five points.

“We’re going to three circuits now where there are longer corners – the problem with Knockhill is it just doesn’t suit our car.

“It’s just the way it is, but this is the only circuit on the calendar with these characteristics, so I’m pleased with the weekend.

“It’s game on – we’ve got this out of the way now, and I’m pleased.”

After only setting the eighth quickest time in the first race, Plato had to settle for a fourth row start and finished seventh as championship rival Gordon Shedden took victory.

In the third race, Plato challenged eventual winner Matt Neal for the lead during the early stages, but dropped back to sixth.

Standings: 1 J Plato 249pts, 2 G Shedden 238, 3 M Neal 227, 4 C Turkington 221, 5 A Jordan 219.

MATT Chapman was also in action at Knockhill in the Ginetta Junior Championship.

The Oxford youngster was sixth in the first race and recorded his best finish of the season to come fifth in the second.

JORDAN Albert endured a frustrating weekend at Snetterton in the Duo BRDC Formula 4 Championship.

The SWR driver was in the top five in practice, but crashed heavily on Thursday.

He qualified tenth, before finishing 13th, fifth and sixth in the triple header.

Teammate Zubair Hoque was 14th, ninth and 15th respectively.

Sean Walkinshaw, owner of the Chipping Norton-based team, said: "After testing was so strong, it is disappointing to come away from the weekend without any podiums."

OXFORD’S Georgina Polden is tenth in the HEL Performance British Motostar Championship after round eight at Cadwell Park.

In hot conditions on Saturday, Polden started well before a persistent wrist injury saw her finish 11th.

Heavy downpours affected Sunday's second race and she was forced to settle for eighth place.