Team Halfords duo Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden endured a difficult weekend as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship returned to Rockingham for the first time since 2003, although both drivers were able to secure two top ten finishes from the second race meeting of the season.

The pair produced a strong performance in the opening race of the weekend with the all-new Team Dynamics built and developed Honda Civic before a first lap accident forced both to retire from race two. However, fine work from the Team Halfords crew in the gap before race three meant Matt and 'Flash' were able to come through the field in the final race to add further points to their tally as the team continues to develop its first Super 2000 car.

Race One:

From sixth on the grid, Matt made up one place when Darren Turner failed to make the start, and then made a storming start to move ahead of Eoin Murray into fourth place. He would then hold off the challenge of Mat Jackson behind while team-mate Gordon was making his way through the pack from his starting position of eighth. By lap ten, the two bright orange Civics were running together in fourth and fifth, but oil dropped on the circuit by Fiona Leggate that saw a number of drivers run wide gave Gordon his chance to overtake Matt on lap eleven - with the two then running together to the finish for a double top five finish.

Race Two:

Despite a good start from both drivers, the Team Halfords challenge would end on the opening lap. Matt got up to second place with a stunning move down the inside at turn two, only to be tagged from behind going into turn three by Tom Chilton as the Vauxhall man barged his way past. Matt was then hit by Colin Turkington going into turn four causing damage to the rear of the Honda. Further contact with the BMW ripped the right rear wheel from the Civic and tipped Matt into a spin that saw him collect team-mate Gordon. The impact caused extensive damage to one side of his car, and having also damaged his suspension, Gordon was forced to retire - leaving the team with work to do to get the two cars on the grid for race three.

Race Three:

Having worked miracles to get the cars fixed in time for the final race, Matt and Gordon responded with a pair of top ten finishes to add further vital points to their respective championship totals. Despite starting near the back of the field, Matt and Gordon were soon into the top ten with 'Flash' in seventh and Matt ninth when the Safety Car was deployed. When racing resumed, Matt made light work of both Matt Allison and Flash to go sixth (Tom Onslow-Cole having retired) and held the position ahead of his team-mate until the final lap, when Flash was able to take the place when Matt was held up by the Vauxhall of Fabrizio Giovanardi.

Quotes:

Matt Neal: "It's a weekend that promised a lot. We had good finishes in race one with fourth and fifth which was great and were doing cracking in race two to get near the front. The car felt strong and we could have finished on the podium, but two daft moves screwed our whole weekend as it put us out of race two and made us start at the back for race three. It was an uphill fight from there but it wasn't for a lack of effort for the team so a big thanks to them for putting in 100 per cent again. We have more to do ahead of Thruxton so there'll be no lying on the beach just yet, but we've done well there before and the guys know how to make cars quick. We just have to get this one to the sharp end."

Gordon Shedden: "I came through to finish fourth in race one for some solid points and thought we would move on nicely in race two but it was carnage for both Matt and myself. We had substantial damage to both cars but we have these miracle workers that are employed by Team Dynamics who keep on fixing cars and getting them back together. It was an awesome job yet again to get two cars on the grid for the final race - never mind two cars in the points at the end of it. It wasn't my accident in race two so I'm looking for a weekend where I get three good finishes in the points, but on the plus side we are making progress with the car and have to keep working hard. We aren't a million miles away and hopefully we can come out fighting at Thruxton in two weekends."