Matt Neal battles through pain barrier to two podiums

Honda Racing Team’s Matt Neal says he would have been pleased with two podiums even without the broken finger he had to contend with over the Silverstone weekend.

The triple champion netted two thirds and a sixth to head into the final round 34 points behind Eurotech Racing’s Andrew Jordan, and said it is still “all to play for” in Kent.

Neal said the weekend was not just about coping with his injury, once again saving his strongest criticism for the boost restrictions imposed by TOCA, which left his Civic short of straight line speed.

Speaking to TouringCarTimes on Sunday, Neal said: “I’m just glad the day’s over. I had an injection yesterday [Saturday] and I didn’t like it at all, so I have just been on some painkillers which have been great.

“Even without my hand I would be chuffed with two podiums here, and a win for Flash [Gordon Shedden]. The speed differential is ridiculous around here. It is hard not to sound sour about it, because we say that every year and they do nothing.

“I don’t know whether they think it makes a good show. The problem is they say if they gave us a fair amount of boost, or equivalency, then we would probably run off on the technical circuits.

“There is no need to make people who aren’t up to the job look better. Everyone jumps out of the car and pats themselves on the back, when they have 30 horsepower more than you, and they are 6mph faster down each straight. That is not sport.”

One other talking point came in the final race, when Neal clashed with Sam Tordoff in a move which saw the Triple Eight MG spin off.

The stewards gave Neal an official reprimand and two penalty points on his licence, but the Midlander believed he was not at fault.

He said: “He got his nose along the inside of me, and the MG was really strong through Luffield.

“I’m driving along the exit kerb, and he just came out of the inside, and didn’t try and go around Woodcote. He pushed me off onto the dirt and turned himself across me.”