In a difficult weekend for Halfords Yuasa Racing. A promising qualifying and start to the weekend was damaged by tyre problems and the team left Thruxton with only a single podium.
Qualifying had put Matt Neal third on the grid, behind Aiden Moffat and Tom Ingram, wih Gordon Shedden back in eleventh.
For Race 1, Matt (P3 on the grid) has 75kg ballast on board, while Flash (P11) is carrying 66kg.
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) 8 May 2016
After a bit of bumping and bashing at the start of the race, Neal was up in the lead.
And we”re away for Race 1! Great start by Matt – incident in the first turns, and @MattNealRacing leads the way! #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) 8 May 2016
Throughout the race, Neal was battling for the lead, whilst Shedden was making up places further back.
Great move from Morgan on Matt, but Matt retakes him at Segrave. Morgan goes P1 again. It’s oh so close up front! #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) 8 May 2016
After pushing Moffat out of the way at the start of the race, the Scot had made his way back in front of Neal. Until…
Moffatruns wide – the first to have a front left puncture – and Matt goes P2! #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) 8 May 2016
The race was going well for the Halfords team, until disaster struck in the closing stages of the race.
Safety car! Matt has a puncture; and Flash is into the pit wall! #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) May 8, 2016
High drama … On replay, Flash’s back end was caught by Josh Cook, who was spun around after Cook tagged a slowing Matt. #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) May 8, 2016
Now it was time for the guys in the garage to get the car ready for race two.
The hard work starts here … #Teamwork #BTCC pic.twitter.com/OHplAYcdvt
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) May 8, 2016
The boys started at the back of the grid but, with no ballast, Neal and Shedden were up for the challenge.
Great start from Flash – he’s up to P19 – Matt up to P22. Ingram has a jump start penalty. #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) May 8, 2016
Both drivers worked their way up through the field.
Lap 6/12. Flash is into gthe top 10 – he’s up to P10 with no ballast. Matt’s P16. #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) May 8, 2016
It’s a trademark drive from @gordonshedden, now up to P8, but will the tyres still have their say? #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) May 8, 2016
Incredible race in the last two laps! Come on Flash – he’s up to P5! #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) May 8, 2016
Shedden made up 19 places to take fourth place at the end of the race, whilst Neal finished eleventh.
Jordan wins, from Collard, Morgan and Flash takes P4 – that’s 19 places in 12 laps. Matt just misses out on the top 10, in P11. #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) May 8, 2016
Flash: “Itfeels like a win. After the disappointment in Race 1, it was a cracking Race 2. The guys in the garage are heroes.” #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) May 8, 2016
For the final race of the weekend, Shedden started sixth whilst Neal started eleventh.
Lap 4/12: Flash is P4, chasing Goff. Matt’s P9 #BTCC pic.twitter.com/49K2jFYz0u
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) May 8, 2016
Welch is off from P2 – he has a puncture! That moves Flash up to P3. #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) May 8, 2016
Shedden was pushing for second place in a fierce battle at the front.
Up front, it’s Mat Jackson from Goff, who is being hounded by Flash who himself gets contact from Collard! #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) May 8, 2016
And here’s the order, before Matt takes P2 from Jack Goff! Can he chase Mat Jackson down? #BTCC pic.twitter.com/ibIIwmlmbG
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) May 8, 2016
The race was going well and building up to an exciting end when…
But making a move on Goff, Goff twitches under braking and takes Flash out! Flash is definitely the innocent party, and he’s out. #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) May 8, 2016
And Matt loses out to Mat Jackson by a mere 0.256 seconds. A fine podium, up from P11, rescuing a difficult start to the weekend. #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) May 8, 2016
Despite today’s mixed results, Matt shares the championship lead with Rob Collard, on 103 points. There’s still all to play for! #BTCC
— Honda Racing BTCC (@hondaracingbtcc) May 8, 2016
Feature Image Credit: Caroline Rhea
