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Neal and Shedden take 1-2 to set up stunning season finale

BTCC News | Sun 2nd October 2011

The 2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is set for a grandstand finish, with Matt Neal five points ahead of Jason Plato and Gordon Shedden.

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By Matt Lamprell

Neal and Shedden claimed a 1-2 for Honda Racing in the final race of the day at Brands Hatch. After two victories earlier in the day, Plato started from tenth and managed a sixth place finish.

WSR’s Nick Foster started the race from pole position, but could only hold on to the lead until the start of the second lap. Andy Neate was initially second behind Foster, but was passed by both Neal and Shedden out of Westfield.

Neal, Shedden and Neate all went on to pass leader Foster along the start-finish straight as they headed on to lap two. Foster’s line out of Clearways was a wide one and they were able to squeeze past on the inside before Paddock.

Foster lost further places to Nash and O’Neill on lap two and found himself down in tenth by the start of lap six.

Frank Wrathall’s difficult day ended in the gravel on the outside of Graham Hill Bend. Two DNFs and a 13th place are a far cry from the podium success he has become accustomed to in recent races.

Starting down in tenth, Plato struggled with the 45kg of success ballast and was forced to battle with Onslow-Cole, Boardman and Foster to try and break back into the points after dropping to 11th. Boardman and Onslow-Cole got the better of Foster on lap five, but it took Plato until lap eight to find a way past the BMW.

At the front, Neal, Shedden and Neate looked comfortable. Fourth placed James Nash was under pressure from Paul O’Neill – so much so that the Triple Eight driver was shown the black and white flag for putting four wheels off the track while defending. However, O’Neill’s challenge came to an end on lap 10 after he went off at Graham Hill Bend, with a transmission problem.

Neal and Shedden were comfortable enough at the front to be able to swap the lead for a lap, enabling Shedden to pick up a bonus point for leading the race. Neal went back through a lap later and went on to take the win. Shedden followed his teammate home in second.

Neal said, “The car was great, as it has been all day long. We needed that result – not just for Flash and me as individuals, but as a team. The car was a dream to drive.

“It’s nice to be leading the championship, but that means I’ve got to carry more weight in qualifying and the first race at Silverstone.”

Behind the Honda duo, Andy Neate looked set for his first BTCC podium finish, until he went off at Sheene two laps before the end. That handed third place to James Nash, which is where he finished the race.

Tom Chilton was the top Team Aon finisher in fourth, ahead of Mat Jackson in fifth and Plato in sixth. Seventh place went to Onslow-Cole, ahead of Jordan, Boardman and Foster.

The final three races of the 2011 season take place at Silverstone over the weekend of 15/16 October. Matt Neal leads the championship on 225 points, ahead of Plato and Shedden who are tied on 220 in second. Fourth placed Mat Jackson and fifth placed James Nash are also still in with a mathematical chance of taking the title.

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