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British Touring Car Championship
Brands Hatch (Indy) - Race 3 Report - 31/3/13

By MJP Media | 31 March 2013

Matt Neal wins the 3rd race from Brands Hatch. Gordon Shedden makes it a Honda Yuasa Racing 1-2 following an incredible drive from last to 2nd. Sam Tordoff impresses with a maiden BTCC podium.

Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden take a 1-2 victory for Honda Yuasa Racing

Following the exclusion of Gordon Shedden from the result of the second race due to a technical infringement, Mat Jackson started the last race of the day from pole position in his Airwaves Racing Ford Focus thanks to the reverse grid system whilst Shedden had to start at the back of the grid. Joining Jackson on the front row was Adam Morgan in the Ciceley Racing Toyota Avensis. Having won the first two races, Jason Plato started race 3 from 7th place.

Off the line, Mat Jackson held the lead ahead of Matt Neal however on lap 2 Dave Newsham spun his Toyota Avensis and collided with the Audi A4 of Rob Austin resulting in Austin smashing into the barriers causing extensive damage to his car and the safety car to be deployed whilst their cars were cleared from the track.

Rob Austin's damaged Audi A4

When racing resumed, leader Mat Jackson ran wide, allowing Matt Neal to take the lead in his Honda Yuasa Racing Civic ahead of Adam Morgan in 2nd whilst Jackson dropped to 4th behind Jason Plato. Jackson then lost further places to Sam Tordoff, Gordon Shedden, Jeff Smith and Frank Wrathall.

On lap 17, Sam Tordoff passed Andrew Jordan to take 4th place and then set about passing his team-mate Jason Plato which he succeeded in doing on lap 20. Meanwhile, Gordon Shedden had made his way from the back of the grid and was running in 5th place behind the MG KX Momentum Racing duo.

Sam Tordoff passing team-mate Jason Plato for 3rd place

In the closing laps, Gordon Shedden gained yet more places as he made his way up to finish 2nd behind team-mate Matt Neal to record a Honda Yuasa Racing 1-2 finish - an impressive performance for Shedden after starting at the back of the grid. Sam Tordoff took the final podium position with a well-deserved 3rd place on his BTCC debut weekend with Adam Morgan 4th, Jason Plato 5th and Andrew Jordan 6th.

Leaving Brands Hatch, Jason Plato leads the 2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship on 54 points with Andrew Jordan 2nd on 45 and Sam Tordoff 3rd on 40. The next meeting is at Donington Park on April 20th and 21st.

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