Photo: PSP Images

Honda pair optimistic as they begin defence of the title

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Team Dynamics head to next week’s opening weekend of the British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch with strong expectations, following an extensive pre-season test programme with the Civic Type-R.

Current champion Gordon Shedden will be chasing his fourth title with the team, as will team-mate Matt Neal. Dynamics have been testing at the Castellolí circuit in Spain as well as a number of circuits from the BTCC calendar in preparation of what is expected to be another competitive season.

“Testing has gone well,” said Shedden. “There has been plenty of learning with the new Dunlop tyres, but I think we’re getting our heads around it all and I’m in a reasonably happy place right now.

“The week in Spain was really beneficial and highlighted a few things we needed to work on early in our preparations. That ensured we were on the right track by the time we got back to the UK and the car feels good. It actually feels different to last year – the tyres have had more of an effect than I’d expected, to be honest – but we seem to be increasingly unlocking the little Civic Type R’s potential.

“Of course, the one thing we don’t know at this stage is how quick everybody else will be, but what’s for sure is that it’s going to be insanely close in qualifying at Brands Hatch with the whole field on zero ballast.”

British Touring Car Championship Media Day 2017 atDonington Park,Derbyshire,UK on 16 March 2017. Lanyon/PSP

Team-mate Neal says reading the field before the start of the season is difficult. Honda’s main threat will likely come from the now factory BMW-backed West Surrey Racing team, while strong performances are also expected from the revised Subaru BMR squad, and Motorbase Performance’s three-car Ford team.

“There are some very good driver and car combinations out there, which is what everybody wants to see,” said Neal. “If the BTCC wasn’t a challenge, we wouldn’t be here…our goal is to be as consistent as we possibly can be over the course of the campaign.

“I never like to be confident, because I think confidence breeds complacency, but I’m feeling good and three solid results at Brands has to be the goal.”