Matt Neal: Championship tide is turning for me
Matt Neal believes good things are headed the way of him and his Halford Yuasa Racing team after a dominant first victory of the season.
The Stourbridge ace led from pole position all the way to the flag in the first of three British Touring Car Championship races at Thruxton on Sunday.
And after climbing the standings from 17th to sixth by following up that win with another podium, Neal is excited by what the remainder of the season holds.
“It has been an incredibly special weekend and I am delighted to have given the Civic Type R (FK8) its first BTCC victory on ‘home soil’ at Thruxton,” said the 51-year-old.
“That pole lap is one I am especially proud of – I was hanging everything out there – so I am really chuffed to turn it into a win.
“I had a fantastic start to grab the lead through the opening bends and from there the Civic Type R’s strengths through the quick corners meant no-one could get close to me.”
Neal carried the full amount of ballast into race two on the back of his win to bring his car home third, following that up with an eighth place in the final reverse-grid race.
“To get another podium in race two with that much ballast demonstrates just how good the package is and shows we are very much in the title battle this year,” added Neal.
“I really think the tide is changing for us and this is the start of good things to come.”
Neal’s points haul also lifted Honda to third in the manufacturers’ championship and Halfords Yuasa Racing to second in the teams’ standings.
