Matt Neal: “Eight points is not a lot”

Matt Neal currently heads the British Touring Car Championship with eight points ahead of Jason Plato. But Neal says that the eight point advantage is not a lot.
“It’d be lovely to leave Croft and go into the mid-season break still in the lead but eight points is not a lot and there are a few other very determined drivers not far behind Jason either,” said Neal to BTCC.net.

Neal is going to carry maximum penalty weight of 45 kilos in the first race at Croft. While Plato is just 9 kilos lighter, Neal says the Chevrolet driver should be quicker.

“We had identical weight at Oulton Park and Jason qualified third where as I was back in seventh. His speed has concerned me from the word go and I still think he’s the benchmark,” said Neal.

Neal says that the qualifying and first race at Croft is going to be a case of damage limitation.

“I think the Civic will be good around Croft but qualifying and race one could be a case of damage limitation. My target is to be right on the back end of the top six, get the weight off and make races two and three work for me. But it’s going to be tough work to come out still on top,” said Neal.