Murray reckons Plato will be mint

1:28pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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MOTORSPORT legend Murray Walker believes North-East raised Jason Plato and team-mate Darren Turner will win at Thruxton this Sunday - as Rounds ten, 11 and 12 of the BTCC take place at the fastest circuit on the calendar.

With top speeds approaching 155mph and Church, the fastest corner in the BTCC, taken at 130mph, Walker considers the experience of the SEAT Sport UK driving force and the performance of the Leon TDI will reign supreme on the ultra-fast Hampshire track.

"I'd forecast a likely win for Jason Plato at Thruxton. With years of experience there he knows the circuit and, after his first win of the season, he is hungry for more," he said. "Now that his powerful diesel SEAT is up to speed it should have the grunt that is needed to see off his rivals at super-fast Thruxton, but watch his SEAT team-mate Turner, too."

Carl Breeze unofficially smashed the SEAT Cupra Championship lap record at Thruxton during official testing in April, and he'll be hoping for similar race pace this weekend.

With three wins from six races, Robert Lawson, from Barton, near Croft on Tees, is the man on form - and with a grid full of Leon Cupras topping 140mph, exciting SEAT racing is guaranteed.

After races in Brazil and Mexico, the first European rounds of the WTCC take place in Valencia this weekend. Undefeated SEAT heads to its home event leading the Manufacturers' Championship, while all five SEAT Sport drivers hold top six positions in the Drivers' standings, headed by Rickard Rydell.