JASON Plato has shrugged off his recent clash with Fabrizio Giovanardi ahead of the eighth round of the British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch.

Plato, raised in Newcastle and currently on 209 points, leads the drivers standings by 14 points from Italys Giovanardi with just three rounds still to run.

Plato could only manage eighth, third and fourth-placed finishes in his SEAT at the last round at Snetterton, while Vauxhall veteran Giovanardi grabbed a win, a third and a fifth to close down Platos lead at the summit.

Giovanardis third place in race three came at the expense of Plato following a coming together between the two that dropped the SEAT driver out of the final podium position.

But Plato insists media reports suggesting the incident has caused a rift between himself and Giovanardi are wide of the mark.

I spoke with Fabrizio after the race, Plato said.

We dont have a problem at all. Things are said in the press for dramatic effect.

To be honest, weve not traded enough paint. When hes been having successful weekends, Ive had pretty good weekends and vice versa.

We havent actually had a really good race together yet, but Im sure thats going to come.

While all may be well between Plato and Giovanardi, the same cannot be said for the Britons relationship with compatriot Matt Neal (Team Halfords Honda).

Neal and Plato came together in race one at Snetterton, the incident sending both way down the order and out of the running for the win.

The relationship between Plato and reigning champion Neal is notoriously frosty, and Plato pulled no punches after their latest set-to.

I cant be bothered to speak with him and I guess vice versa, Plato said.

I dont like the way Matt does things, and I guess he doesnt like the way I do things. Some people you get on with, some people you dont.