Jason Plato

Jason Plato is one of the biggest characters in UK motor racing, and one of the most controversial. Since bursting onto the karting scene at the end of the 1970s he has gone on to either upstage or upset dozens of drivers, team owners and tam managers - not to mention the odd policeman and nightclub owner. Despite that he is the British Touring Car Championship's most successful driver ever having won an astonishing 96 races and two championships, with more race wins than Lewis Hamilton.

Since 2004, Jason has also co-presented the popular motoring magazine series Fifth Gear, which recently aired its 23rd series. Jason is also a weekly regular on James Martin's hugely popular current show, Saturday Morning, on ITV.

How Not to Be a Professional Racing Driver is his first book.