Collard deflects blame for crash

Collard and Neal were fighting for second place when they banged wheels through Clearways. As they crossed the start-finish line, Collard was right in Neal's slipstream but, under braking for Paddock Hill Bend, Neal's Honda Integra was tapped into a spin.

Neal's car speared off the track to the left and clouted the barriers heavily before spinning to a halt in the gravel trap.

With the driver's side of the car badly damaged, Neal could not get out of the cockpit easily and the race had to be stopped.

The reigning champion was then taken to the circuit's medical centre for a precautionary check-up.

Despite hitting the back of Neal's car, Collard claimed that he was caught out when his rival appeared to brake early for Paddock Hill Bend.

"Matt put a move on me into Clearways," said Collard. "He was quite aggressive, and we went nose-to-tail into Paddock Bend. He braked so early, though, that he caught me by surprise. It was a big crash, and I hope he is okay.

"I was closing in on the back of him. I got a slipstream and he braked so early, miles early, that it caught me out. He obviously tried to either defend the corner, or he had a problem. But it caught me by surprise."

Collard was able to continue after the incident, taking second place behind Jason Plato.