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British Touring Car Championship
Silverstone - Race 3 Report - 16/10/11

By MJP Media | 16 October 2011

Matt Neal wins the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship ahead of Honda Racing team-mate Gordon Shedden. Reigning champion Jason Plato is 3rd.

Coming into the last race of the 2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship from Silverstone, Matt Neal was ahead of Gordon Shedden by 6 points and would start the final race 8th on the grid with Gordon Shedden one place behind him. Being the only two remaining title contenders, it was vital that they both had a 'safe' race as any accident or incident could easily ruin their championship chances.

Tom Chilton took maximum advantage of the reverse grid which put his Global Ford Focus on the front row for the last race of the season by winning the 3rd race for Team Aon. Jason Plato (Silverline Chevrolet) and Tom Boardman (Special Tuning Racing) made the most of their 2nd row start as well by finishing 2nd and 3rd. Alex MacDowall, who was given pole position in the reverse grid, finished in 4th place for Silverline Chevrolet ahead of the Pirtek Racing Vauxhall Vectra of Andrew Jordan in 5th and the Audi A4 of Rob Austin which completed the top 6.

Further down the field, Honda Racing ream-mates Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden both drove a steady race with neither driver taking any unnecessary risks. Matt Neal ended the race in 8th place ahead of the Team Aon Global Ford Focus of Tom Onslow-Cole in 7th. Gordon Shedden finished 10th behind the Toyota Avensis of Frank Wrathall in 9th.

Despite finishing 8th, Matt Neal had done enough to secure the 2011 BTCC Drivers Championship on 257 points with Gordon Shedden 2nd on 249. Reigning champion Jason Plato was 3rd with 236 points. In addition to the Drivers Championship, Honda Racing won the Teams Championship with Honda / Dynamics winning the Manufacturers / Constructors Championship. James Nash won the Independents Trophy and 888 with Collins Contractors won the Independents Teams Trophy.

As ever, the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship has provided a magnificent season of thrilling racing and we look forward to the 2012 season which starts at Brands Hatch at the end of March.

 

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