Sport   Other Sports   Touring Cars

British Touring Car Championship
Croft - Race 1 report - 19/6/11

By MJP Media | 19 June 2011

A brilliant drive from Mat Jackson in the first race at Croft got him a well-earned 2nd place as victory went to Matt Neal in the Honda Racing Team Civic.

Matt Neal wins the first race at Croft
Matt Neal wins the first race at Croft

Following earlier rain, the track was initially waterlogged for the first race of the day at Croft but with it starting to dry out, tyre choice would be critical for all the drivers.

Off the line, the usually fast-starting WSR BMW 320si E90 of Rob Collard got wheel-spin allowing Jason Plato and Matt Neal to hold their positions. Plato slid off following a tap from a recovering Collard allowing Neal to take the lead with Collard 2nd and Plato rejoining in 3rd. From 7th on the grid, Gordon Shedden was soon up into 4th place.

As the race progressed, Collard was pushing Neal for the lead whilst Shedden was challenging Plato for 3rd. Behind them, Andrew Jordan was under pressure from Ton Chilton for 5th. A Safety Car period on lap 8 to recover Tony Gilham's Vauxhall Vectra allowed the cars to bunch up and cool their tyres. When racing resumed the top 3 broke away from Shedden in 4th.

In the closing laps, Matt Neal was once again under pressure from Rob Collard however Mat Jackson was now on a charge. Having made his way up to 5th, Jackson passed Gordon Shedden on lap 15 to take 4th place and straight away started to hunt down the Silverline Chevrolet Cruze of Jason Plato. In a thrilling last lap, Jackson passed Plato and then Collard to take 2nd place.

At the chequered flag it was victory for the Honda Civic of Matt Neal with the Airwaves Ford Focus of Mat Jackson just 0.055 seconds behind him in 2nd. Rob Collard took 3rd with Jason Plato 4th, Gordon Shedden 5th and Andrew Jordan 6th.


A splendid drive from Mat Jackson secures 2nd place for Airwaves Racing
A splendid drive from Mat Jackson secures 2nd place for Airwaves Racing

 

Touring Car content supplied by MJP Media

Olympus Camera

TOURING CARS - LATEST NEWS

Race reports and previews from the British Touring Car Championship plus British interests in other international Touring Car series


BTCC - Croft - Race 1 Report - 19/6/11 BTCC - Croft - Race 1 Report - 19/6/11
A brilliant drive from Mat Jackson in the first race at Croft got him a well-earned 2nd place as victory went to Matt Neal in the Honda Racing Team Civic.


BTCC - Croft - Qualifying - 18/6/11 BTCC - Croft - Qualifying - 18/6/11
Jason Plato secures the first non-Honda pole of the 2011 season at Croft ahead of Matt Neal and Rob Collard.


BTCC - Croft - Free Practice - 18/6/11 BTCC - Croft - Free Practice - 18/6/11
Alex MacDowall and Rob Collard top the timesheets in free practice at Croft whilst Rob Austin ends the sessions in a magnificent 7th place.


BTCC - Croft - Preview BTCC - Croft - Preview
As the British Touring Car Championship looks forward to Croft this weekend, Matt Neal leads the way but several drivers are right behind him in this closely contested series.


BTCC - Oulton Park - Race 3 Report - 5/6/11 BTCC - Oulton Park - Race 3 Report - 5/6/11
Mat Jackson wins the last race of the day but Matt Neal still leads the championship with Gordon Shedden just 2 points behind.


BTCC - Oulton Park - Race 2 Report - 5/6/11 BTCC - Oulton Park - Race 2 Report - 5/6/11
Victory for Jason Plato as Honda Racing Team throw away a 1-2 result on the last corner of the second race.


BTCC - Oulton Park - Race 1 Report - 5/6/11 BTCC - Oulton Park - Race 1 Report - 5/6/11
Victory for Gordon Shedden in the first race at Oulton Park as Matt Neal struggles and finishes in 8th.


BTCC - Oulton Park - Qualifying - 4/6/11 BTCC - Oulton Park - Qualifying - 4/6/11
Honda Racing Team qualify 1st and 2nd for the first race of the day on Sunday at Oulton Park.


BTCC - Oulton Park - Free Practice - 4/6/11 BTCC - Oulton Park - Free Practice - 4/6/11
Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal top the timesheets in free practice for Honda Racing Team at Oulton Park.


BTCC - Oulton Park - Preview BTCC - Oulton Park - Preview
The picturesque Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire is the next venue for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. Matt Neal predicts a strong showing for his arch rival Jason Plato.


BTCC - Changes to the Technical Regulations BTCC - Changes to the Technical Regulations
TOCA today announced changes to the BTCC Technical Regulations to address the performance advantage of the turbo-charged cars. The changes will take effect from the next meeting at Oulton Park on June 4th and 5th.


BTCC - Thruxton - Race 3 Report - 1/5/11 BTCC - Thruxton - Race 3 Report - 1/5/11
Plato strikes back with a victory in the 3rd race at Thruxton.