Halfords Yuasa Racing leave Donington with some nice shiny trophies and twenty two points ahead of their nearest rival in the team championship.
Race One
The Honda duo were split on the grid with Gordon Shedden starting fourth and team mate Matt Neal ninth, but the former struggled off of the grid.
Back to the BTCC, we’re away for Race 1! Flash is getting muscled out – he’s down to P7 with Matt P8. #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
After their success at Brands Hatch two weeks ago, both cars were heavy with success ballast. The team had also opted to take the soft tyre in the first race of the weekend.
Lap 10/17: As expected, the combination of success ballast and soft tyre are beginning to hurt the Civic, but we’re still P7 and P8. #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
The tyre choice did as they expected, with the drivers struggling to keep their places.
Lap 12/17: Matt has been passed by Jeff Smith and he’s now under pressure from Aron Smith. #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
The pair finished just outside the top ten in eleventh and twelfth in what they hoped would be their worst race of the weekend.
Race Two
So Flash lines up for Race 2 in P11 with Matt P12. They lose all ballast and will run the medium tyre. #BTCC pic.twitter.com/bHgrDHVdMf
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
Neal didn’t have a great start off the starting loan, dropping a place down to P13, whilst team mate Shedden made up a place in the opening stages of the race.
At Redgates, Matt loses a place to Morgan – Matt’s now P13, Flash P10. Safety Car – Ollie Jackson and Kelvin Fletcher are off. #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
Both drivers battled through the field with much more success than they had in the first race.
Great dice between Jeff Smith, Morgan, Flash and Matt. Flash is on a charge! Turkington’s off – we’ve got the safety car again! #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
At the restart, Flash is pressing Smith for P8, and he makes the pass! Matt presses Morgan for P10 #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
Great move by Matt on Morgan, who nudges Jeff Smith on to the grass. #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
Lap 13/19. Terrific battle up front, and Flash and Matt both gain places – they’re now P5 and P7 ahead of Ingram. An amazing lap! #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
Shedden just missed out on the podium, battling against Smith in the closing stages of the race but unable to get past the Team BKR driver.
We’re into the final three laps. Can Flash challenge for a podium? He’s P4, a mere 0.29s behind Smith. #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
Flash misses out on a podium by a mere 0.122s! Congratulations to @CollardRob on the win, from @mat_jackson and @AronSmith_. Matt P6. #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
Race 3
“>In the reverse grid draw for Race 3, Sam Tordoffstarts from pole, so Matt starts from P3 and Flash P5. #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
Starting towards the front of the grid for the final race of the weekend, the Honda pair had a much better start off the grid than they had in earlier races.
Great start from Matt – he’s up to P2! #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
is up to P4 past Cook and looking strong. Remember, both Hondas are on the medium tyre. #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
The Hondas were closing in on the BMW in the lead towards the end of the race.
And Matt’s up to P2 from Goff! #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
We’re on lap 11/16: Flash is up to P3past Goff. Can the guys reel in P1 man Tordoff? #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
Amazing move from Matt – he takes the lead around the outside! #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
Flash follows Matt through for P2! #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
Another Halfords Yuasa 1-2! #BTCC pic.twitter.com/u2P9TaWSBN
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) April 17, 2016
The team now leads the championship, twenty two points ahead of Team JCT600 with GardX in second place. The Honda drivers lead the drivers’ championship, with Matt Neal five points ahead of team mate Gordon Shedden
Feature Image Credit: Caroline Rhea
