Neal leads Croft practice sessions

The Dynamics-run Honda Civic driver lapped 0.257 seconds clear of team-mate Gordon Shedden, who backed up Neal to take a one-two for the squad in the second session.

Neal was delighted with progress. He was running the maximum 45kg of success ballast, although he was on a qualifying set-up.

"It's 75 per cent about qualifying here," said Neal. "If you can get to the front you can generally stay there. This is as good as it's going to get for us, and I hope it can continue into qualifying."

Tom Chilton set the fastest time in the first session, run in bitterly cold conditions that only marginally improved later on. Chilton's Arena-run Ford Focus was in qualifying trim at that point, then ran a race set-up in the lunchtime session. His morning time was beaten only by Neal later on.

Also showing well was Paul O'Neill, fourth fastest overall in his Tech-Speed Honda Integra, and Alex MacDowall, who edged out title contending Chevrolet team-mate Jason Plato.

Pos  Driver           Car                   Time
 1.  Matt Neal        Honda Civic           1m25.430s
 2.  Tom Chilton      Ford Focus            1m25.685s
 3.  Gordon Shedden   Honda Civic           1m25.687s
 4.  Paul O'Neill     Honda Integra         1m25.692s
 5.  Alex MacDowall   Chevrolet Cruze       1m25.776s
 6.  Jason Plato      Chevrolet Cruze       1m25.909s
 7.  Rob Collard      BMW 320si             1m25.920s
 8.  James Nash       Vauxhall Vectra       1m25.935s
 9.  Steven Kane      BMW 320si             1m26.081s
10.  Andrew Jordan    Vauxhall Vectra       1m26.155s
11.  Dave Pinkney     Vauxhall Vectra       1m26.358s
12.  Tom Onslow-Cole  Ford Focus            1m26.402s
13.  Tom Boardman     SEAT Leon             1m26.448s
14.  Daniel Lloyd     Vauxhall Vectra       1m26.680s
15.  Mat Jackson      BMW 320si             1m26.700s
16.  John George      Honda Integra         1m27.228s
17.  Arthur Forster   BMW 320si             1m27.401s
18.  Andy Neate       BMW 320si             1m28.544s
19.  Martin Depper    BMW 320si             1m28.591s
20.  Martin Johnson   Vauxhall Astra Coupe  1m28.626s
21.  Lea Wood         Honda Integra         1m29.052s
22.  Shaun Hollamby   VW Golf               1m29.079s