Team Halfords duo Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden endured a difficult weekend as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship returned to Rockingham for the first time since 2003, although both drivers were able to secure two top ten finishes from the second race meeting of the season.
The pair produced a strong performance in the opening race of the weekend with the all-new Team Dynamics built and developed Honda Civic before a first lap accident forced both to retire from race two. However, fine work from the Team Halfords crew in the gap before race three meant Matt and ‘Flash’ were able to come through the field in the final race to add further points to their tally as the team continues to develop its first Super 2000 car.
Race One:
From sixth on the grid, Matt made up one place when Darren Turner failed to make the start, and then made a storming start to move ahead of Eoin Murray into fourth place. He would then hold off the challenge of Mat Jackson behind while team-mate Gordon was making his way through the pack from his starting position of eighth. By lap ten, the two bright orange Civics were running together in fourth and fifth, but oil dropped on the circuit by Fiona Leggate that saw a number of drivers run wide gave Gordon his chance to overtake Matt on lap eleven - with the two then running together to the finish for a double top five finish.
Race Two:
Despite a good start from both drivers, the Team Halfords challenge would end on the opening lap. Matt got up to second place with a stunning move down the inside at turn two, only to be tagged from behind going into turn three by Tom Chilton as the Vauxhall man barged his way past. Matt was then hit by Colin Turkington going into turn four causing damage to the rear of the Honda. Further contact with the BMW ripped the right rear wheel from the Civic and tipped Matt into a spin that saw him collect team-mate Gordon. The impact caused extensive damage to one side of his car, and having also damaged his suspension, Gordon was forced to retire - leaving the team with work to do to get the two cars on the grid for race three.
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