Honda Racing Team: BTCC Race Review, Rounds 13-15, Croft, North Yorks

Scotsman Gordon 'Flash' Shedden has thrust himself into contention for this season's Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship with a spectacular double win for the Honda Racing Team at Croft today.

Shedden powered his Civic to a lights-to-flag victory in the opening 15-lap encounter at the demanding North Yorkshire track and backed that up with another triumph in the weekend's second race. It means he has vaulted into third position in the points, just 19 shy of team-mate Matt Neal.

This was all topped off by a stunning one-two result in the second race of the weekend. Shedden's team-mate Neal followed him over the line for a formation finish and it is a result that consolidates Neal's position at the top of the overall championship standings.

"We have been threatening a big result for ages, and it has all come together here," said 'Flash' Gordon. "I made a great start in the opening race and was able to control the pace from there. I had a great battle with Rob Collard's BMW in a dash to the line but I just held on. That meant I had to carry success ballast in race two but the Honda was superb and I was totally in control despite an extra 45 kilos on the car."

"If you had have told me before this weekend that I would have scored 35 points over three races, I would have bitten your hand off," added Gordon. "We can really look forward from here."

"I am delighted for the team that we have had such a solid weekend," said 43-year-old Neal, who had finished fourth in the weekend's opening race despite carrying 45 kilos of success ballast as title leader.

"The Civic was fantastic in the first and second races," he added. "It has so much power and we were able to use it well. I was ruled out of the final race with a puncture but that is one of those things that happens in motor racing. Leaving Croft, we are first and third in the drivers' points, leading the manufacturer and constructor standings and are also on top in the teams' championship. You couldn't ask for more than that."

The championship now heads in to a seven-week break before battle resumes at Snetterton in Norfolk on August 7/8 but Neal says the team will not rest on its laurels during the summer.

"We have to keep chipping away at the car and make it faster," said the former double champion. "It has been such a competitive start to the season that we can't stand still. Everyone will be working on upgrades and we have to do the same. We have already proved that we have the kit to do the job. All we need to do is keep pushing hard to stay at the top."

British Touring Car Championship standings (after 15/30 rounds):

1. Matt Neal, Honda Racing Team, Honda Civic (119)
2. Jason Plato, Racing Silverline, Chevrolet Lacetti (111)
3. Gordon Shedden, Honda Racing Team, Honda Civic (100)
4. Tom Onslow-Cole, Team Aon, Ford Focus ST (97)
5. Steven Kane, Airwaves BMW, BMW 320si (92)
6. Mat Jackson, Airwaves BMW, BMW 320si (79)

Off-the track, the fourth contest between team mates Neal and Shedden took place during Honda's 'A Question of Motorsport LIVE' event at Marshall Honda in York on Saturday night after qualifying. Over 100 guests turned out to watch Neal win his second quiz of the season bringing the score to 2-2.

The next series of this fun off-track competition takes place on the Honda stand over Goodwood Festival of Speed between 1-4 July. Please visit www.honda.co.uk/btcc for more details. Fans will also get to see Matt and Gordon racing their Civic up the famous Goodwood Hill Climb Circuit as well as a whole host of other exciting motorsport spectacles.

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