Matt Neal stands by blocking tactics

The former Vauxhall driver has stood by his tactics at the Brands Hatch final where he tried to help team mate Giovanardi by slowing the field.

Neal also hits back at critisism from commentator Tim Harvey, relecting back to how Harvey himself won the championship in 1992 for BMW.

In an interview for the series official site, btcc.net, Neal reflects on his season with Vauxhall – where in the first part of the season he was a strong contender for the championship, but lost ground later in the season.

Matt also claims he’s slightly upset to have gained a place in the standings in the final:
“Finishing fourth overall? Sure it was a disappointment. Who remembers fourth? I actually wanted to stay fifth which is where I was going into Finals Day so I could keep my number for next year – I like five and I’m pretty superstitious – but that’s the way it goes.”

In regards to his tactics, which slowed the field down and caused both of the Team Airwaves BMW’s to fall out of contention, Matt Neal explains:
“Isn’t that why they come to watch touring cars?”

“It made me laugh when I heard Tim Harvey (ITV commentator) had criticised our team tactics on TV and that we’d got our come-uppance. What a short memory some folks have! He wouldn’t have had his title in 1992 without his team-mate Steve Soper and the rest of the BMW family to help him… which got pretty ugly at the time”.

Matt Neal’s plans for 2010 haven’t been confirmed yet, but he’s strongly expected to return to father Steve Neal’s Team Dynamics squad. Possibly alongside former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert.