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British Touring Car Championship
Thruxton - Race 3 Report - 5/5/13

By MJP Media | 5 May 2013

Honda dominates the last race of the day from Thruxton with a 1-2-3 podium lockout with Honda Yuasa Racing's Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal taking a 1-2 victory.

Gordon Shedden celebrates his victory in the 3rd race at Thruxton

Following the random reverse grid draw for the final race of the day from Thruxton, Jack Goff started in pole position for RCIB Insurance Racing alongside the Ciceley Racing Toyota Avensis of Adam Morgan. The 2nd row of the grid was taken by the MG KX Momentum Racing MG6 of Sam Tordoff and the Pirtek Racing Honda Civic of Jeff Smith with Jason Plato and Andrew Jordan on row 3.

Jack Goff was unable to take advantage of his front row start as he ran wide and onto the grass, dropping to 4th by the end of the first lap. Another excursion on lap 2 saw him retire from the race. The curse of the front start also affected Adam Morgan who also had a number of trips off the track after inheriting the lead when Goff retired. Morgan was forced to pit on lap 2 and re-joined at the back of the grid.

Gordon Shedden leads Matt Neal and Andrew Jordan to a Honda Civic 1-2-3

Following the demise of Goff and Morgan, Jeff Smith led the field and found himself under intense pressure from Jason Plato in 2nd place who was closely followed by team-mate Sam Tordoff. An exciting tussle ensued as Gordon Shedden, who started 7th, joined the leaders and started attacking Tordoff for 3rd place. From 9th on the grid, Shedden's team-mate Matt Neal had also progressed up the field and by lap five was in 5th place behind Shedden.

After an intense battle, Jeff Smith lost the lead to Jason Plato on lap 7 and fell into the clutches of Sam Tordoff who in turn was being chased by Gordon Shedden. Shedden passed Tordoff on lap 10 and set about passing Smith which he succeeded in doing on lap 12, taking 2nd place. With the battle for 2nd place raging behind him, Jason Plato extended a slight lead and looked set for victory, however a tyre failure on lap 14 put the former BTCC champion out of contention and handed the lead to reigning champion Gordon Shedden. A spin by Jeff Smith on lap 15 lost him his 2nd place position and handed the position to Matt Neal.

Tyre troubles put Jason Plato out of contention

At the finish it was success for Honda Yuasa Racing with Gordon Shedden leading team-mate Matt Neal in a 1-2 victory. After making up several places in the closing laps, Pirtek Racing's Andrew Jordan took the last podium position and with it, a Honda Civic podium lock-out. Tom Onslow-Cole ended the race in 4th place with Aron Smith 5th and Jeff Smith 6th. Lea Wood won the Jack Sears Cup.

Following a thrilling day of racing including a trio of victories for Honda Yuasa Racing, Matt Neal now leads the championship standings on 137 points with Andrew Jordan 2nd on 124 and Jason Plato 3rd on 121 as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship now takes a short break before returning on the 8th and 9th of June at the picturesque Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire.

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