2015 BTCC: Matt Neal wins third race at Knockhill

Matt Neal secured second BTCC victory for Honda Yuasa Racing Team at Knockhill Circuit today. After Gordon Shedden‘s win in Race 2 another driver of Honda Civic Type R crossed the finish line first in Race 3. Neal fought for the win against pole-sitter Adam Morgan in Wix Racing’s Mercedes A Class. Neal made a victorious move in the hairpin of the penultimate lap.

Morgan finished second ahead Andy Priaulx (West Surrey Racing) in a BMW 125i M Sport. Aiden Moffat in another Mercedes started second and finished fourth. After the race Moffat has been awarded with a podium because Priaulx was penalized with 3.5 seconds. Priaulx had crossed the line at turn 3 to claim the final spot and stewards decided that the triple-world champion gained an unfair advantage. Following an investigation, the positions have been reversed, so Moffat scored a maiden podium on his home circuit.

There were countless changes of positions between 5th and 10th. Rob Austin in Exocet AlcoSense Audi A4 finished fifth. Championship leader Jason Plato in Team BMR’s Volkswagen CC finished sixth, ahead MG Triple Eight’s Andrew Jordan. Gordon Shedden confirmed his second place in championship standings with 8th place in Race 3. Mat Jackson (Motorbase Performance, Ford Focus) and Martin Depper (Eurotech Racing, Honda Civic) rounded top 10.

West Surrey Racing’s drivers Sam Tordoff and Rob Collard performed well but retired after mechanical issues. Tordoff started from back of the pack and he was at 6th place until premature end.

After 21 races in 2015 season Jason Plato remained in the lead with 249 points, just nine more than Gordon Shedden. Third placed Matt Neal is further eleven points down. Colin Turkington is fourth with 221 points, just two more than Andrew Jordan. Best places WSR driver is Andy Priaulx at 6th with 210 points, four more than team-mate Sam Tordoff.