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BTCC 2012 Index

Neal wins race three to keep pressure on Plato

BTCC News | Sun 19th September 2010

Matt Neal won for the fifth time this year in race three at Donington Park, keeping the pressure on points leader Jason Plato ahead of the final races at Brands Hatch in three weeks' time.

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Pirtek Racing's Andrew Jordan started from pole position after the top nine finishers from race two were reversed to form the grid.

Jordan led away from the line with Matt Neal and Rob Collard behind him. The Vectra driver opened up a small gap initially, but started to struggle with the car's handling a few laps into the race. Neal wasn't going to be asked twice and seized his opportunity when Jordan slid wide at Redgate on lap five.

That was it for Neal. Although Rob Collard followed him through into second, the Honda Racing Team driver was secure at the front and could focus on bringing the Civic home.

With Neal in the lead, Plato was forced to be more aggressive, working his way up from seventh on the grid. He passed Airwaves BMW driver Steven Kane on lap four, but had to work hard to get past Mat Jackson – eventually succeeding when Jackson ran wide at Coppice on lap nine.

That was Plato up to fourth and his sights were next set on Jordan and a podium spot. Another four laps passed before a decent chance arose, but unsurprisingly, Plato pounced when he saw an opportunity. He made his move at Redgate with three laps remaining.

Plato dived to the inside on the approach to the right-hander, but Jordan fought back heading down through the Craner Curves. Plato was on the inside again for the Old Hairpin and made the spot his own. Steven Kane challenged briefly as Plato and Jordan slowed each other, but it was Plato who emerged in third.

At the end of the 17 laps, Neal took the chequered flag, ahead of Rob Collard and Jason Plato. Steven Kane finished fourth for Airwaves BMW, with Chilton fifth and Shedden sixth. Jordan ended up seventh, Jackson eighth and Onslow-Cole ninth. James Nash finished tenth for Triple Eight.

Racewinner Matt Neal said: "The whole year was resting on the result of that race – I needed that one. Anything can happen at the last race, so we'll just have to wait and see."

The result means that Jason Plato leads the points standings on 224, ahead of Matt Neal (207), Shedden (203) and Tom Onslow-Cole (200). All four drivers are still in with a chance of winning the title at the finale at Brands Hatch on 9-10 October.

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