Photo:

Neal loses third place

By

Reigning champion Matt Neal says he won’t get upset at losing his third place result result in today’s third Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship round at Croft. The BTCC’s Clerk of the Course initially reprimanded Neal for overtaking Jason Plato at the final corner by placing all four wheels off the circuit.

A subsequent appeal by Plato’s SEAT team was then upheld by the BTCC Stewards who judged Neal’s actions had gained him an unfair advantage.

Neal was thus demoted a place to fourth while Plato was elevated to third. That means series leader Neal’s advantage over nearest rival, Team RAC’s Colin Turkington, is now 37 points. Plato, third, is 40 points adrift of Neal having gained five points in total on him today.

But Team Halfords driver Neal told BTCC.net: “It was just one of those things – there was certainly no malice in it. I’m just sorry Jason took it so badly, but I’m not going to get upset about it. I tried but it wasn’t to be.

“Overall, I’m really pleased with the way my day has gone. I’ve still pulled four points on Colin and Jason’s only made up five on me.”

A knock-on effect of Neal’s punishment means his Team Halfords squad has dropped two points behind SEAT Sport UK in the BTCC Team’s championship standings.