Senior championship figures including Steve Neal and Jason Plato have spoken out about the speed of the new Ford EcoBoost engine in Motorbase Performance’s Ford Focus STs – but the team have again defended themselves against the claims, and say their engine is on a par with the Neil Brown Honda unit.

Mat Jackson took a commanding pole and race one win at Silverstone, and was also able to charge from the back to seventh in a finale which saw team-mate James Cole start from pole and get embroiled in an on-track clash with Team BMR’s Plato.

Plato, who received a verbal warning for making contact with the Focus, was critical of both Cole and the team after the race. Both he and Neal Snr say the EcoBoost engine has a power advantage over its rivals.

“My race [three] was effectively ruined by getting stuck behind a car with 30bhp more, and a guy behind the wheel who when I gave him a tap took his hands off the wheel and started driving like a taxi driver,” said Plato to TouringCarTimes.

“Their engines have not been through the same checks as ours have, they’re running around with no weight and they have the best engine which hasn’t had its performance balanced like all the others have.”

Addressing suggestions the Fords make up more speed around the corners, Plato added: “They’re talking utter bollocks. They’re pulling four car lengths down the straight.”

Honda Yuasa Racing team principal Neal added: “Everyone in the pitlane knows they’ve got 20bhp more than everyone else, and they’ve got no weight.”

For their part, the Motorbase drivers and staff have strongly defended their position.

“Have a look at race three when we’re following the Hondas – there’s clearly no difference. It’s there on ITV for everyone to make their mind up,” said Jackson to TouringCarTimes.

“The minute we got on the back of the Honda behind the safety car, it’s very well matched to where we are.

“I assume they’re (Team BMR) upset at the Hondas as well, because they’re the same (as us). And the Audis…”

“It is quick in a straight line,” said Cole. “Is it much quicker than everyone else? No. You can watch the races back and you can see we don’t take the mick, our engine is strong but is not that much stronger than everyone else’s. We don’t take the piss because you can’t in this championship.

“All it takes is one silly move and you can lose four or five spots, and you can’t gain it back. It’s a shame, but I’ll learn from it.”

Motorbase team manager Oly Collins added: “James had a bit of a breakthrough with two top ten finishes proving he can mix it with the front runners, even if Plato did his best to ruin his race three – maybe the pressure is getting to him?”

Previously, Rob Austin was critical about the speed of the EcoBoost engine after the Rockingham round, a claim which was refuted by team boss David Bartrum at the time.