Honda pair confident of strong Snetterton

The works Honda pairing of Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal are both raring to go ahead of the resumption of racing at Snetterton this weekend, with both men optimistic the long layout will play to the Civic Tourer’s strengths.

Shedden arrives in Norfolk just seven points adrift of championship leader Colin Turkington, with wins at Thruxton and Donington Park the highlights of a very consistent first half of the year.

The 2012 champion has won four times at Snetterton, including in the final race last year.

He said: “It’s been a long time since Croft so it will be good to get back into it at Snetterton and really get down to the serious end of the championship. I feel relaxed and refreshed after the summer break and am definitely ready to go again.

“I’ve got happy memories of Snetterton. The ‘300’ layout is the longest circuit we go to on the BTCC calendar, and it has a good mix of corners and hard-braking zones, which should play to our car’s strengths.

“We’re making progress with the Civic Tourer all the time, and whilst the last couple of circuits perhaps better suited some of our rivals, we’re optimistic about being able to redress the balance next weekend.”

Meanwhile, Neal has shifted his attentions towards supporting his team-mate’s chase for the crown after a tough opening half of the season.

He said: “I always look forward to the summer break and the chance to recharge my batteries a bit, but by the same token, I always look forward to the resumption of racing, too.

“I’ve had a couple of rough meetings recently, but keeping my glass half-full, that does mean I’ll be light going into qualifying at Snetterton, which will definitely be an advantage. The last couple of years there have seen some pretty frenetic racing, but I think we stand as good a chance as anybody else.

“I’m a bit of an outsider for the title now, so my approach going forwards needs to be slightly different – especially with Flash still right in contention. The focus will be on supporting his championship challenge and scoring strong points towards the teams’ and manufacturers’ standings.”

Team manager Peter Crolla  said: “Everybody in the team has tried to take a little bit of a holiday over the last few weeks, the drivers included. It’s important to work hard, of course, but just as important to make sure the team is on top form when we come back from the summer break.

“We’re pretty happy with the balance and pace of the Civic Tourer, so we didn’t feel the need to test – but that’s not to say the workshop has been quiet, far from it! The cars have undergone extensive rebuilds during the break so that they return to the track well-serviced and in A-1 condition.

“We’re confident of enjoying a strong weekend at Snetterton. Both drivers have performed well there in the past, and I think the ‘300’ layout should play into the Civic Tourer’s hands – its long, fast sections are just the kind of areas where this car truly excels.”