Matt Neal cleared to race in Silverstone BTCC round

The Honda driver recently broke the middle finger of his right hand during a martial arts training session.

The triple champion successfully drove his Civic in a shakedown session at MIRA proving ground on Thursday, but sought dispensation from a doctor in order to maintain his championship challenge at Silverstone this weekend.

He has now received the all-clear to race, but will require surgery to repair the damaged finger.

"I've had the brace off and got the all-clear to race but my finger's fucked," Neal told AUTOSPORT.

"I'll have to have surgery on it and plates inserted on Tuesday. The bones are smashed and displaced.

"I'm feeling pretty glum, but I'll just have to get through the weekend, take it as it comes, and then go back into hospital."

Neal has broken his right hand in each of the past three BTCC seasons including this one.

In 2011 he suffered an injury in a martial arts training session, and last year fell off his motorcycle en route to a training session.

Neal lies fourth in the BTCC title race heading to Silverstone, 34 points behind championship leader Andrew Jordan.