Oulton Park BTCC: Matt Neal wins race three for Honda

The factory Honda driver started from the reversed grid pole position and maintained his advantage into Old Hall, while team-mate Gordon Shedden fought off a stern challenge to move ahead of Tom Ingram's Toyota Avensis and into third place on the exit of Cascades.

Shedden then benefited further when second place man Josh Cook had a huge slide in his Triple Eight MG6 going through Druids corner on the opening lap. That allowed Shedden to make it a Honda one-two.

While others battled behind, Neal and Shedden were able to pull seven seconds clear of the chasing pack.

However, disaster struck for Shedden with a lap and a half to go when his front-left Dunlop collected a puncture and he was forced into the pits.

Winner Neal said: "I knew Gordon had gone out and so I backed it off over the closing stages - but you are always hearing all kinds of scary things towards the end of a race anyway. I am delighted."

Race two winner Sam Tordoff overtook Ingram out of Old Hall with a lap to go to secure second place.

There was more drama for Ingram as he defended from Cook going into Lodge on the last lap.

Jason Plato pulled off an audacious move around the outside of the two battlers to grab a podium slot right at the last minute.

Ingram was fourth, Cook fifth and Rob Collard again dragged his WSR BMW 125i from the back of the grid to a superb sixth place, just passing Colin Turkington's Subaru on the run to the finish line.

RESULTS - 15 LAPS:

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