Team Halfords' rivals in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship were dealt a double whammy at the latest round at the Scottish circuit of Knockhill; not only did championship leader Matt Neal extend his points lead, the team also unveiled its third car with Gareth Howell at the wheel, and the BTCC returnee was right back to action at the front of the field.

Knockhill has been a circuit which has not favoured Team Halfords lead driver Neal in the past, but this weekend Matt saw fortune look down favourably upon him with a win and two second places such that Neal quipped he was ready to move to the hilly Scottish track.

"Fantastic results for me and the team," said Neal after a second place in race one, a win in race two second again in an action-packed race three. "We were lucky to get the result out of race three - it was just kicking off everywhere!"

The only active race circuit in Scotland served up the kind of weather for which it has become famous over the years, and whilst much of the rest of the UK basked in blue skies and sunshine the BTCC drivers found themselves braced against heavy rain, wind and a thick fog on the track, giving an added challenge on the tight, twisty and exciting track.

Qualifying on Saturday saw a new Team Dynamics-built Honda Integra Type-R on the front row with Gareth Howell in his Castrol-sponsored Team Halfords car set the second fastest time in the session, belying the fact that he had not raced in the series since 2003. Behind Howell's gold liveried machine was team-mate Matt Neal, having set the fourth fastest time despite having the heaviest car in the championship. Dan Eaves meanwhile was just off Matt's pace and would line up in fifth.

Race one saw Gareth take the lead at the start, but his race lead was to be short-lived. After conceding a place to VX Racing's Yvan Muller, Howell was powerless when contact from Colin Turkington meant he ended his race in the gravel.

After a safety car restart, it was a battle for the lead between championship rivals Matt Neal and Muller. Matt displayed impressive pace and resolve as he briefly made it past Muller before being pushed wide to lose the lead. Matt then powered right back to the Frenchman's tail for a final attempt on the last corner, but was just unable to pass despite his best efforts. Dan Eaves meanwhile drove a strong and solid race to fourth.

Race two saw Muller and Matt battle once more but this time Neal was able to pass and stay past his French rival, and the appearance of a later safety car didn't prove any challenge to Neal scoring another win. There was happiness too for the third car with Gareth Howell taking sixth place from the back of the grid, whilst Dan Eaves was unfortunate to suffer a rare suspension failure in his car, leaving him with all to do once more in the final race.

A reverse top ten grid greets the drivers in the BTCC race three meaning that Matt would start from tenth place on the grid, and Gareth from fifth. A storming first few laps from Gareth saw the gold Integra in third place and then challenging for second place, making a move on Jason Plato's SEAT before seeing that the safety car was out. Before having a chance to back off, the SEAT driver added Gareth to the tally of Team Halfords cars he has taken off this season.

"I thought the fact that my car was gold and not orange may trick him into thinking I wasn't a target, but hey ho, he decided to spin me out," said Howell of the incident from which he was able to recover back to eleventh place in the order behind the safety car.

With the safety car returning to the pits it was all action as seems to always be the case in the final race of the day. Once again it ended up as Matt Neal challenging Yvan Muller for position, but the VX Racing driver suffered engine problems and in his attempts to keep Neal behind a multiple car incident occurred behind him through which Neal somehow emerged with second place intact. Up front with a significant lead was Rob Collard and although Neal would close in on the WSR MG driver by over a second per lap he was unable to take the race lead. A strong second place and the retirement of championship rival Muller was a fantastic result nevertheless.

Gareth Howell fought his way back fantastically through the field to a fantastic fourth, though he mused on what could have been. "The third race could have been mine, should have been mine," he said.

Dan Eaves took a superb sixth from his back of the grid start, his race also involving a visit to the tyre barriers after contact from James Kaye's Civic. "I just picked my way through to end up in sixth so it was one of those fighting races, a very, very enjoyable race to be in," said Dan. "Unfortunately I haven't picked up a big bag full of points, which is what I hoped to do this weekend but I'm still in third place, still way ahead of Plato in fourth place so I just pack my bag and look forward to the next race at Silverstone."

Leaving the wet of Knockhill Matt Neal was beaming with his now thirty point lead at the top of the drivers' championship standings. "We're moving here, I'm buying a house up the road. Last year I just couldn't get the thing on the pace, and this year the car's just on fire, it's really hooked up in every race and I'm over the moon."

There is now just Silverstone and Brands Hatch to be visited in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.