Matt Neal takes first NGTC win in race two

Matt Neal took the win in the second race of the 2012 British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch, his first in the new Honda Yuasa Racing NGTC Civic.

It was race one winner Rob Collard who led the field away from the line. The West Surrey Racing driver immediately built a margin over Matt Neal, boasting a lead of 1.2s after only one lap.

After claiming a podium in race one Tom Onslow-Cole was forced to serve a drive through penalty for a jumped start. At the front Jason Plato began to put pressure on Matt Neal for second. The two rivals were able to pass Rob Collard on the sixth lap, with Matt Neal taking over the lead of the race.

After making it out of the garage at the last minute for race two, Aron Smith retired to the garage after only three laps.

The first and only safety car of the race was called out on lap eight after the BMW of Nick Foster hit the tyre wall after Druids and rolled. Foster walked away from the incident.

Neal led the field away on lap 14, with Plato challenging him for the lead. Behind the Andrew Jordan, who had been coming under pressure from Mat Jackson was able to overtake Rob Collard for third. Both Mat Jackson and Rob Austin followed him through.

After 13 laps Honda Yuasa Racing’s Gordon Shedden retired to the garage. Out in front Plato was able to get through on Neal on lap 18 to take over the lead of the race. However Neal did not let the MG get away and was able to re-overtake Plato for the lead on the following lap.

As the race entered its final stages Jason Plato came under increasing threat from Andrew Jordan, who was able to overtake him for second on lap 24. This was how they crossed the line after 27 laps with Neal’s NGTC Honda Civic leading Jordan’s Civic and Plato third in the MG.

Ollie Jackson will start the third and final race on pole after the reverse grid was set at eight.