Matt Neal on top at Snetterton 300 test

Matt Neal set the fastest time at the new Snetterton 300 layout in testing today. This was the first full outing for the new NGTC-powered Honda Civic after an initial shakedown run at Brands Hatch last week.

Neal’s best lap at the 2.99 mile circuit was a 1:58.761, which saw him finish ahead of the morning’s pace-setter Mat Jackson by a quarter of a second.

All drivers set their best laps in the afternoon session, with Team Eurotech’s Jeff Smith only taking part in the afternoon session.

Tom Chilton completed the most laps in the afternoon as Team Aon completed as much development testing as they could on the new Ford Focus, the only new S2000 car in this year’s championship.

Chilton, who was also celebrating his 26th birthday, was just 0.321s shy of Neal’s Civic at the end of the session, after being two seconds off the pace in the morning.

The first non-turbocharged car was that of Paul O’Neill in fourth, driving in the distinctive purple Chevrolet Cruze run by Tech-Speed Motorsport.

The two West Surrey Racing BMWs were on the heels of fifth placed Andrew Jordan in the Pirtek Racing Vauxhall Vectra, with BTCC newcomer Nick Foster just four-tenths shy of his experienced team-mate Rob Collard.

The other two BTCC rookies Liam Griffin and Jeff Smith’s best laps were just over the two minute mark.

Team Aon will return to the Snetterton circuit tomorrow for a private test.