Matt Neal, driving a Honda Civic, has won today's (Sunday) third round of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch, Kent.
Reigning champion Neal, aged 40 from Droitwich, moved from third on the grid into first at the first corner and held on until the chequered flag to win. His win will be seen by many as a shock as the Civic had arrived at Brands Hatch still desperately short of track miles.
Second was Fabrizio Giovanardi, in his Vauxhall Vectra, and third – making up for his round 1 exclusion – Mat Jackson (Henley-in-Arden) in his Jacksons MSport BMW 320si. Jackson also set the race’s fastest lap.
The result means that, provisionally, SEAT's Jason Plato (Oxford), who won the day's opening two rounds, leaves Brands Hatch leading the championship with 39 points from Neal, in second, on 32 points. Colin Turkington (Portadown), who retired from round 3, is third on 25 points.
Rounds 4, 5 & 6 will take place at the Rockingham circuit in Northamptonshire on 22 April.
Result (27 laps):
1. Matt Neal (GBR), Team Halfords/Honda Civic, 23m48.564s
2. Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA), VX Racing/Vauxhall Vectra, +1.148s
3. Mat Jackson (GBR), Jacksons MSport/BMW 320si, +1.236s
4. Darren Turner (GBR), SEAT Sport UK/SEAT Leon, +2.005s
5. Jason Plato (GBR), SEAT Sport UK/SEAT Leon, +2.467s
6. Adam Jones (GBR), Air Cool/SEAT Toledo, +4.062s
Fastest lap: Jackson, 49.789s (86.70mph)
Y de regalo....
