New points leader Neal “stoked” with Thruxton results

Honda Racing Team’s Matt Neal was over the moon with his Thruxton weekend after moving to the top of the British Touring Car Championship points standings for the first time this season.

Neal took a pair of wins and a second place in his Honda Civic, the first result his 50th win in the BTCC. He now leads Honda stable-mate Andrew Jordan by 13 points as the season heads into a month-long break ahead of Oulton Park.

Speaking to TouringCarTimes, Neal said: “The wins feel as sweet as the first one. I’m absolutely stoked – just chuffed to bits with the whole day. I am over the moon for the team.”

Reflecting on the last race of the day, Neal added: “Sat on the grid in ninth with weight, I was hoping for top five or six, and if I could sneak on the podium it would be a real bonus. So I’m stoked to get second and a 1-2 with Flash.

“Both Andrew [Jordan] and Jeff [Smith] were pushing. With two laps to go we had a swarm of Hondas out there!

“It is a shame for Jeff. I just had a little bit more legs on him into the chicane and I didn’t want to be asked twice. I went round his outside and I think he just slid into me, and then I don’t know what happened to him.”

Neal is predicting a tougher fight when the championship lands in Cheshire in June.

He said: “We have got some new ideas with the car – we never stop. Nobody else in the pitlane is going to stop, they are all coming at us.

“The horsepower issue is going to be more prevalent at Oulton with the stop and start [nature of the track]. It isn’t going to be like this there – we are going to get a bit more of a bloody nose, but we are up for the fight.

“We’ve got some points in the bag, so bring it on.”