Race 1 report: Neal wins season opener at Brands Hatch

Sun 5th April 2009 Matt Neal has won the opening race of the 2009 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch this afternoon.

The VX Racing driver started from pole position, but lost two places away from the line when he was passed by the fast-starting BMWs of Rob Collard and Colin Turkington. It was Airwaves BMW’s Rob Collard who led the pack into Paddock Hill Bend for the first time, leaping away from third on the grid. He was trailed by Team RAC’s Colin Turkington followed by Neal and fellow VXR drivers Andrew Jordan and Fabrizio Giovanardi – newcomer Jordan getting the jump on the reigning champion.

With Rob Collard leading, it wasn’t such a great start for his teammate, Jonny Adam, in his maiden BTCC outing. Adam was collected away from the line by fellow Scot Gordon Shedden, who in turn had been hit by Stephen Jelley. Adam retired immediately, while Shedden continued initially before pitting later on. Jelley was able to continue.

There was an early visit to the track for the safety car after John George slid into the gravel at Clearways on the opening lap. There was also time for Harry Vaulkhard to run wide at Paddock and David Pinkney to do the same at Druids before the safety car picked up the leaders at the end of the second lap.

The race restarted three laps later with Colin Turkington challenging Collard for the lead at Paddock. The Airwaves driver stayed in front but lost the lead on the following lap after a tap from Turkington at Druids allowed the Team RAC BMW through on the inside. Matt Neal was well placed and demoted Collard to third on the run down to Graham Hill Bend.

Later on the same lap, Neal was leading the race. Always quick through Surtees, Neal gave Turkington a gentle tap before passing on the inside, taking teammate Andy Jordan through with him.

There were soon three Vauxhalls in the top four, when Giovanardi managed to pass Collard coming on to the main straight. Stephen Jelley attempted to follow Giovanardi through the gap, but found his path blocked by Collard.

A second safety car period began on lap 13 after Nick Leason landed his diesel BMW in the gravel at Clearways. This bunched the leaders up once again, with Neal and Jordan at the front.

Jason Plato was up to sixth from his grid position of ninth and spent much of the remainder of the race battling with Jelley, before winning a drag race to the finish by just two thousandths of a second.

With Leason’s BMW cleared away, there were ten laps of the race remaining. Neal held on to the lead, but Andy Jordan’s second position was shortlived – his Vectra slowing to a halt coming out of Graham Hill Bend on lap 18.

The three leaders – now Neal, Turkington and Giovanardi – became bunched up at the front. It took Giovanardi a couple of attempts, but the VX Racing 1-2 was restored when he passed Turkington at Mclaren. Turkington then came under pressure from Collard, who tried a couple of times to take third spot. However, there were no further changes in the top four in the final few laps.

The first victory of the season went to Matt Neal, ahead of Fabrizio Giovanardi.

Following the race, Neal said, “Pole and a win. You can’t argue with that. I was sliding around at one point. Colin was looking pretty racy out there and so was Fabrizio towards the end. The BMWs were particularly quick away from the line, and we weren’t, but we were able to get back past and we came on strong towards the end.”

Colin Turkington took the final podium spot and the Independent win, with Rob Collard in fourth. Adam Jones picked up an impressive fifth in the first race for Cartridge World Carbon Zero Racing. Jason Plato was sixth, Stephen Jelley seventh and Harry Vaulkhard eighth. The final two points positions went to Dan Eaves and Martyn Bell.