Jason Plato – the SEAT Sport United Kingdome`s Dunlop MSA (British Touring Car Championship) driver, tested the Caparo T1 model for the Channel 5 Fifth Gear tv programme. The auto burst in flames at about 150mph. Plato came out suffering minor burns to both hands, the back of the neck and his face.

Jason Plato affirmed:
`We were testing the Caparo T1 for Fifth Gear, and we took it to Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, a private testing facility, which is common practice. There was a slight loss of power, I looked in the mirror and saw some smoke, there was a slight smell of oil and then suddenly there was this intense heat`.

`The car spontaneously erupted into a ball of flame and I was sat in the middle of a fireball. I hit the brakes, brought the car to a stop as quickly as I could and jumped out`.

Jason Plato was taken in private vehicle to the nearest emergency facility – Market Harborough and District Hospital, receiving the initial treatment. Then he was moved to the Kettering General Hospital, after that to the Stoke Mandeville Hospital, receiving special burning treatment.

Jason Plato was injured testing Caparo T1

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