AUTOSPORT Awards National Driver of the Year: Matt Neal
Matt Neal has been named National Driver of the Year at the AUTOSPORT Awards in London
Autosport Awards
The Autosport Awards are a series of awards presented by motor racing magazine Autosport to drivers that have achieved significant milestones each season. Some of the presentations are selected by the general public via a reader's poll.
Neal, who sealed his third British Touring Car Championship crown this year, beat his touring car rivals Gordon Shedden and Jason Plato and British Formula 3 champion Felipe Nasr to win the award.
Neal paid tribute to his fierce rivalry with Plato as he accepted the award, saying: "We have a bit of a love/hate relationship. He wants to win and fight his side and I do the same for mine.
"It is touring cars. Maybe we will do it again next year, but hopefully not to the same level. Thank you."
Neal, 44, took seven wins and 13 podiums in his Team Dynamics-run Honda Civic on his way to his third BTCC title.
A stunning pole position in the Brands Hatch season opener proved a portent of the season to come.
Back-to-back wins on the Kent circuit and at Donington Park gave Neal an early championship lead, and as the normally-aspirated cars struggled for straightline speed the title race became a straight duel between Neal and team-mate Shedden at the Silverstone finale.
Neal took control, taking pole position and victory for the opening race, and thereafter looked untroubled on his way to BTCC title number three.
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