Neal started in pole position after winning the third round of the series earlier in the day, but it was Morrison who made the better start in his Civic Type R. Fifth at the end of lap one Morrison pursued the leading drivers, led by eventual race winner Yvan Muller, with Neal in his slipstream. However, the Ulsterman lost his advantage on the 13th lap of the 1.22-mile Indy Circuit when he ran wide at Graham Hill Bend, allowing Neal through.

The outcome of the race hinged on the appearance of the safety car on lap 14. The first cars to enter the pitlane for their mandatory pit stops had an advantage over those who waited until the following laps – including the Honda Racing duo. That left Morrison 14th and Neal 15th when the safety car retired to the pitlane after a further five laps.

The remainder of the race was spent battling through the pack for Neal and Morrison to establish their top ten finishes and consolidate their overall positions in the championship. Muller won the race comfortably from team-mates James Thompson and Paul O’Neill.

Matt Neal: “That was a frustrating race. The car felt great, but the good fortune of the first race didn’t materialise for the second. We stayed out when we should have come in for our pit stop and then I got stuck in the pitlane when another driver stalled in front of me. By the time we had got out again, there wasn’t an opportunity to challenge for the podium.”

Alan Morrison: “I managed to get a good start but then lost my momentum after running wide at Graham Hill. I enjoyed racing with Matt for most of the race, but his pace was too strong for me in the closing stages and I settled for a safe finish and some points towards the championship overall.”