Exclusive: Jason Plato on being a team principal, coaching motorsport stars, his BTCC team and more!
Jason Plato is one of Britain's most recognisable and charismatic motorsport icons. The Brit scored 97 race victories and two titles across a 26-year career in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) with Plato engaging in multiple iconic rivalries with drivers like Matt Neal and Yvan Muller.
Plato spoke with DIVEBOMB's Owen Bradley at the Goodwood Revival about his transition from racing driver to team principal, his BTCC team, coaching younger British drivers like F1's Lando Norris and George Russell and the hope of a future 24 Hours of Le Mans appearance.
After his retirement from the BTCC following the 2022 season, Plato made a comeback to the grid as Team Principal earlier this year, fronting his own team, Cataclean Plato Racing. The team ran two Mercedes A35 Saloon cars, with Daniel Rowbottom and Adam Morgan racing for the Wellington-based squad.
At the very first round of the season, Rowbottom took pole position at Donington Park (National) after winning the Saturday qualifying race. Later in the year, at the sixth race meeting in Knockhill, Morgan took Plato Racing's first race victory. These results were particularly impressive considering that the team was founded just one year ago.
Speaking about his experience as a driver coach and how it helped him as a team principal, Plato revealed: "I worked on what was originally the McLaren BRDC Young Driver of the Year award as a main judge with Derek Warwick, I've done that for about 15 years now. I really enjoy that every year, in October we do this massive Young Driver of the Year award. I've helped coach Lando (Norris), George Russell and the list is endless.
He added: "I really enjoy that interaction with young talent, trying to help and improve them. I love that. Many years ago, in 2012/13, the roster which came through my KX Academy - Tom Ingram, Ash Sutton, the list goes on. That element of it, I love that. Being involved in the debriefs and just having my little input into Plato Racing, it was great. Obviously we're dealing with people that know their game, but I could add some wisdom to it, and I loved that - that was great, I loved that part of the role."
Plato has coached numerous drivers, with many of them going on to become successful and even champions of their chosen discipline. The Briton partnered with Tesco energy drink brand KX Energy back in 2012 where they launched the KX Academy.
The Academy's goal was to develop young racing driver's skills away from the circuit, with raising sponsorship and learning key business skills in order to advance through the motorsport industry, as many talented younger drivers began experiencing issues, typically financial, when coming through grassroots motorsport classes.
Notable drivers came through the KX Academy, like Tom Ingram, Daniel Lloyd and Sam Tordoff. All three went on to race in the BTCC, with Ingram becoming a two-time champion. Meanwhile, Plato also spent time with Ashley Sutton during the 2010's, with the pair running as teammates at the Adrian Flux Subaru team during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
The 58-year old also raced against the very drivers that he coached in the BTCC, and occasionally still races them at one-off events like the Goodwood Revival. Asked how he is able switch his mindset from being a friend to a competitor, Plato comically responded: "That's dead easy, I f**king hate them!"
Plato's previous experience coaching and working with younger drivers proved to be a vital skill once he started his own BTCC team. The squad impressed many people in the paddock with their speed both on and off the track. Whilst they were fast on the circuit, the team managed to become BTCC race winners less than a year after their formation.
However, the team unfortunately also quickly fell apart. In August 2026, it was announced that Plato Racing had entered administration, with title sponsor Cataclean applying the notice of administration. Jason Plato was suddenly removed from the team, a decision which left the Briton "stunned and deeply unsettled."
Asked about the situation with his BTCC team, Plato quickly responded: "I can't really discuss it, the lawyers have got a hold of it. But, it's a lot more serious than you can imagine."
Following Plato Racing being put into administration, Cataclean announced that it would be providing funding for the team for the rest of the 2026 season, with the squad being rebranded to CPRL Racing and running a plain black livery with only a small handful of sponsors.
Over the last decade or so, Plato has mentioned the desire to race at the iconic Endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Several motorsport icons have been involved in Sportscar and Endurance racing over the last few years, including some of Plato's touring car peers.
Most notably, F1's Max Verstappen and MotoGP's Valentino Rossi have both gone on to race in flagship endurance races like the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, 24 Hours of Spa and 24 Hours of Le Mans itself.
Other BTCC drivers have also ventured out into the world of Sportscars, with four-time BTCC champion Colin Turkington racing in the British GT championship, and 2024 BTCC champion Jake Hill racing in the 24h Series.
With Plato's experience, impressive adaptability and versatility throughout his career, the British racing driver would likely make for a strong competitor in a Sportscar championship. Despite being 58-years old, Plato also still races at events like the Goodwood Revival. Recently, he engaged in a battle with former rival Matt Neal in the flagship RAC TT Celebration race, putting on an impressive show for fans at the circuit in Chichester.
Asked if Le Mans is still on the cards at some stage, Plato said: "I always said many years ago, I really would truly love to do Le Mans, but only with the right car and the right teammates. I always said that when I grow up a bit, I'll do it. I think I'm nearly there now."
Sportscar racing is currently experiencing a new 'golden age', with more competitors from all walks of motorsport looking to compete at events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, back in August, in Plato's statement addressing his BTCC team being put into administration, he stated: "To have built Plato Racing and contributed to the BTCC for more than twenty-five years remains an important chapter in my life – and the chapter is not over yet."
Whilst Plato's future remains currently unclear, the Briton hasn't exactly got anything to prove to anybody. Although, it appears that another return to the BTCC paddock may now be his focus for the foreseeable future.
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