BTCC Thruxton: Neal converts pole into race one victory
Matt Neal converted pole position into victory in the opening British Touring Car Championship race at Thruxton, taking the first victory for the new shape Team Dynamics Honda Civic Type R
Neal had set a record-breaking pole position lap on Saturday, and continued that form into the 16-lap race. He fended off a strong early challenge from Colin Turkington (WSR BMW 125i M Sport) as the pair raced side-by-side into the Complex on the opening lap.
Neal had the inside line for Campbell corner and held first place. The gap between the pair ebbed and flowed but was rarely more than one second. In the end, Neal crossed the line 0.8s ahead of his rival to take his 62nd career win.
"That one was for [the late motorsport journalist and commentator] Henry Hope-Frost," said Neal.
"What a great result for the new car too. I was sitting in front waiting for the tyres to go off because Colin was right on me, but it never happened. I had the best start I have had for a couple of years and was able to fend off Colin, which was important.
"Our car is very strong in the quick corners out the back of the circuit, and because I was ahead, I was able to stretch my legs a bit."
Turkington said that although he had been defeated, he was pleased to get points on the board after scoring only six during the three races at the previous meeting at Donington Park.
"That is a great start to the day - this championship is all about consistency. I had the pace to stay with Matt early on, but the rear tyres went off after about three-quarters distance, so I just backed it off a little bit."
Turkington also set a new lap record in his efforts to rein in Neal, with a 1m17.243s tour to lower the oldest record in the championship, previously a 1m17.303s set by Yvan Muller set in the Vauxhall Astra Coupe back in 2002.
Neal's team-mate Dan Cammish took third place after jumping fellow second-row starter Brett Smith (Eurotech Honda) off the line as his rival bogged down when the lights went out.
Sam Tordoff (Motorbase Ford Focus) overtook an unwell Andrew Jordan (WSR BMW 125i M Sport) after four laps to take fourth spot, and Tom Chilton (Motorbase Ford) usurped the BMW just after half distance too.
The main casualty of the event was points leader Tom Ingram. He pitted in his Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis after only five racing laps. He had maintained his starting position in the top 10, but an electrical problem forced him to park up.
Race one result
| Pos | Driver | Team | Car | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matt Neal | Team Dynamics | Honda | 20m54.608s |
| 2 | Colin Turkington | WSR | BMW | 0.860s |
| 3 | Dan Cammish | Team Dynamics | Honda | 3.699s |
| 4 | Sam Tordoff | Motorbase | Ford | 4.040s |
| 5 | Tom Chilton | Motorbase | Ford | 5.290s |
| 6 | Andrew Jordan | WSR | BMW | 8.922s |
| 7 | Senna Proctor | Power Maxed Racing | Vauxhall | 9.361s |
| 8 | Brett Smith | Eurotech Racing | Honda | 9.725s |
| 9 | Josh Cook | Power Maxed Racing | Vauxhall | 14.929s |
| 10 | Chris Smiley | BTC Norlin | Honda | 15.436s |
| 11 | Rob Collard | WSR | BMW | 15.591s |
| 12 | Matt Simpson | Eurotech Racing | Honda | 16.260s |
| 13 | Jack Goff | Eurotech Racing | Honda | 16.780s |
| 14 | Adam Morgan | Ciceley Motorsport | Mercedes | 17.787s |
| 15 | Ash Sutton | Team BMR | Subaru | 18.096s |
| 16 | Rob Austin | HMS Racing | Alfa Romeo | 18.526s |
| 17 | Tom Oliphant | Ciceley Motorsport | Mercedes | 19.922s |
| 18 | Aiden Moffat | Laser Tools Racing | Mercedes | 21.773s |
| 19 | James Cole | Motorbase | Ford | 23.602s |
| 20 | Jake Hill | Team Hard | Volkswagen | 24.888s |
| 21 | Mike Bushell | Team Hard | Volkswagen | 26.893s |
| 22 | Josh Price | Team BMR | Subaru | 27.155s |
| 23 | James Nash | BTC Norlin | Honda | 27.766s |
| 24 | Rory Butcher | AmD Tuning | MG | 28.022s |
| 25 | Ollie Jackson | AmD Tuning | Audi | 30.185s |
| 26 | Bobby Thompson | Team Hard | Volkswagen | 38.299s |
| 27 | Stephen Jelley | Team Parker Racing | BMW | 38.648s |
| 28 | Sam Smelt | AmD Tuning | Audi | 38.965s |
| - | Jason Plato | Team BMR | Subaru | Retirement |
| - | Tom Boardman | AmD Tuning | MG | Retirement |
| - | Michael Caine | Team Hard | Volkswagen | Retirement |
| - | Tom Ingram | Speedworks | Toyota | Retirement |
BTCC Thruxton: Neal beats Turkington to pole with new record
BTCC Thruxton: Josh Cook wins race two from ninth on the grid
How the BTCC's new hybrid era aced its first test
Expectations were high for the start of the British Touring Car Championship’s hybrid power era, and despite nerves and problems to solve prior to its debut the new rules gained widespread approval. Here’s how the first test at Donington Park was passed and the thorough examinations that are to follow
The Ford BTCC superteam combining two reigning TOCA champions
Reigning BTCC champion Ash Sutton and Porsche Carrera Cup GB victor Dan Cammish form a potent line-up at the Motorbase-run NAPA Racing team as the series adopts hybrid power. With Sutton bringing the key components of his title-winning Laser Tools Racing set-up, and Cammish eager to prove a point on his return, their dynamic is set to be one of the season's major talking points
The stalwart tin-top boss still shaping careers more than 40 years on
Veteran team manager Marvin Humphries and former Tech-Speed team boss has worked not only with stars of the British Touring Car Championship, but legends including Gil de Ferran, Hans Stuck and Tom Sneva in a long and varied career that has spanned five decades across tin-tops, single-seaters and sportscars
The grassroots rise that shaped an understated BTCC star
Having started out in club-level competitions alongside his own university engineering studies, Josh Cook's journey to becoming an established frontrunner in the British Touring Car Championship is atypical. But it's these experiences that have moulded the 30-year-old into a humble star, respected throughout the paddock
Ranking the top 10 BTCC drivers of 2021
A refresh in equipment and some returning faces helped contribute to a supremely competitive 2021 British Touring Car Championship campaign. Ash Sutton was crowned a three-time champion, successfully defending his 2020 title, but faced stiff competition in the final year before the switch to hybrid. Autosport picks out the best performers
Why the BTCC's ballast increase couldn't stop champion Sutton
Ballast will be gone from the BTCC next year as hybrid power enters the scene, but for its final season the maximum was increased from 60kg to 75kg. Despite having to carry that nearly all season, Ash Sutton was always the favourite to pocket a third title - the 27-year-old getting his reward for a season of speed tempered by savvy to nail his opportunities
The much-loved tin-top superstar bowing out at 59
OPINION: It's not often that a driver achieves widespread affection for their personality, as well as their on-track performances. One such individual is Gabriele Tarquini, who will soon bring the curtain down on a remarkable career that has yielded touring car titles on the European and global stage - and, famously, in Britain too
The making of the BTCC's newest superstar
Ash Sutton is on the verge of being crowned a three-time British Touring Car Champion; he seems to have it all. But life hasn't always been straightforward for this superstar of touring cars, as Marcus Simmons has been finding out