Race 1: Neal wins in the damp

However, Plato got a better run through Copse, and was back in the lead by the time the pack got to Becketts. Plato led the next four laps, under heavy pressure from Neal, and finally the Honda driver made his pass stick at Bridge, and once ahead, gradually pulled away.

Plato immediately came under pressure from Thompson, who drove around the outside of Brooklands to claim second before the end of the lap. Plato's SEAT, now carrying an extra 25kgs after rule changes last week struggled to stay with Thompson, and was immediately under pressure from Thompson's Vauxhall teammate Yvan Muller, who was charging up from a lowly eighth place on the grid.

Plato and Thompson spent much of the next few laps racing side-by-side, allowing Muller to close in, while Neal checked out in front.

Muller's charge quickly brought him to the battle for second, and by lap 8, he was by them both for second, but unable to catch leader Neal. "We took a gamble with the set-up," admitted Neal after scoring his second win of the season. "It's something we hadn't tested before, but the car was sweet as a nut all the way. I made a cracking start to get the lead, but was caught napping at the first corner, and lost out to Jason on the exit. But a win is a great way to start the day."

Muller was equally happy with second. "Eighth place to second is good. Eighth isn't where we should have been on the grid, but we worked hard, had a good race, and second is a good result."

Plato held on for third. "We just didn't have the pace", said the SEAT driver, "but we are making progress, and I'm sure we can improve the car for the next race. But the car is good."

Thompson took fourth, from the second Honda of Dan Eaves, with Anthony Reid taking sixth for MG having had an eventful run from 11th on the grid, which included spinning out his teammate Colin Turkington.

With the grid for race two decided by reversing the top 10 finishing order from the first race, the scrap for 10th place was very intense, James Kaye, making his 200th Touring Car start, and Turkington closed in on Rob Huff, and with series returnee Kelvin Burt joining in, it was exciting stuff. Kaye and Turkington went off trying to both pass Huff at the same time, allowing Burt through, with Kelvin passing Huff on the final lap to ensure a front row start in the next race. Huff will start from pole.


1, Matt Neal, Honda Civic Type-R, 24m08.566s
2, Yvan Muller, Vauxhall Astra Coupe, 24m12.043s
3, Jason Plato, SEAT Toledo Cupra, 24m14.638s
4, James Thompson, Vauxhall Astra Coupe, 24m16.536s
5, Dan Eaves, Honda Civic Type-R, 24m22.579s
6, Anthony Reid, MG ZS, 24m24.752s
7, Carl Breeze, Alfa Romeo 156 GTA, 24m25.996s
8, Luke Hines, Vauxhall Astra Coupe, 24m27.242s
9, Kelvin Burt, Vauxhall Astra Coupe, 24m32.644s
10, Robert Huff, SEAT Toledo Cupra, 24m33.039s