JASON Plato’s new team will press on without him, after it struck serious financial trouble in its maiden season.

A two-time British Touring Car Championship title winner, Plato also made a trio of Bathurst 1000 starts – including famously being Peter Brock’s last ever co-driver at the Mountain.

Cataclean Plato Racing was launched this year, fielding a pair of Mercedes-AMG A35s for Daniel Rowbottom and Adam Morgan.

Rowbottom took pole position for the team’s debut race at Donington, while Morgan led a 1-2 at the recent Knockhill round.

Mere days after Knockhill, the team was placed into administration.

Naming rights sponsor Cataclean has now confirmed it will “provide interim funding” for rebranded CPRL to continue racing. Plato is no longer involved however, per a BTCC statement.

“TOCA confirms the team will continue competing in the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship under a new name and management structure, in order that it can move positively forward,” read the statement.

“The matters concerned are internal to the organisation and relate solely to its directors, shareholders and relevant parties. TOCA is not privy to those matters.

“However, TOCA has been provided with assurances of the team’s participation in the BTCC going forward. Those assurances reflect Cataclean’s continuing commitment and confidence in both the team and the championship.

“We understand that the programme will operate through a new entity, without the further involvement of Jason Plato in its management or ownership.

“In the interim, the team will be entered as CPRL.

Peter Brock and Jason Plato. Pic: an1images.com / Graeme Neander

“Jason is unquestionably one of the BTCC’s greatest stars, and his exceptional record speaks for itself. He has long been – and will remain – a valued part of the BTCC family. Although his involvement with this particular venture appears to have reached its conclusion, we look forward to seeing Jason in the BTCC paddock in the future.”

Plato’s Bathurst 1000 resume started with an appearance in the Super Touring edition of 1997, when he partnered Alain Menu for Williams Renault Dealer Racing.

He returned to Mount Panorama in 2000 to represent the Holden Racing Team, sharing its #2 entry with Yvan Muller.

Plato returned to HRT for the 2004 enduros, co-driving with Brock in both the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000.

The 2000 HRT car shared by Jason Plato and Yvan Muller. Pic: an1images.com / Graeme Neander