BTCC Snetterton Round-Up | Honda Engine Room

Snetterton was the venue for rounds 15, 16 & 17 of the BTCC championship and something very special unfolded.

BTCC legend Matt Neal – a three-time champion who has already written his name in BTCC history – landed another landmark moment in his career with a memorable victory in today’s ‘Diamond Double’ race at Snetterton.

However, before all of that unfolded, we caught up with drivers Matt Neal and Dan Cammish as they talked us through what it is like to be a driver in the most exciting racing series in the world..

Matt Neal and Dan Cammish talk to Louise Goodman about what life behind the BTCC Civic TypeR is really like!

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On a very special race day indeed, Race 1 started under wet and windy conditions, catching many of the drivers out as they made mistakes.

By contrast, Dan Cammish drove a superb race to get yet another brilliant podium in his maiden BTCC Civic as he guided his Honda Civic TypeR home in 3rd place.

Race 2 would provide drama and heartbreak with Dan once again mastering very tricky conditions, until 3 laps from the end of the race a safety car would force the pack back together and he was then beaten over the line by a minimal 0.042s

However the big drama of the day was yet to come. And oh how it was worth the wait.

The ‘Diamond Double’ – a one-off 60-mile, ballast-free and double points race – was announced ahead of the 2018 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season as a special celebratory contest to commemorate the 60 year anniversary of the BTCC. Whilst the 30-race season and ultimately the championship remains the main priority of drivers and teams in the series, this particular race was the one that everyone wanted.

Having qualified his Honda Civic TypeR in second place during the special qualifying that was held in stunning summer conditions on a sun-drenched Saturday afternoon, Matt Neal was glad to see the conditions had dried up and the track was ready to be hit with slick tyres.

Close behind fellow Honda driver Jack Goff, Matt took his chance on lap nine and would never relinquish the lead. Goff would then spend the rest of the race being hunted down by Tom Ingram.

The trio remained inseparable for the remainder of the race but as the rain began to ease it looked as if Goff and Ingram had the pace over Neal’s Honda. The new-for-2018 Civic Type R flexed its muscles, however, and as Goff and Ingram began to fight it left Neal free to clinch the 63rd win of his illustrious BTCC career.

“It has been a truly magical day for the entire Halfords Yuasa Racing team. To produce a result like this on a level playing field with no success ballast is testament to the pure performance and the fundamental competitiveness of the Civic Type R, as well as demonstrate how hard the team has worked to unlock its potential since the start of the season. We had a tough race one and two in tough conditions, but we were always confident for the ‘big one’ from the front row and while the car didn’t feel settled initially it got better and better as the race went on. Once I was in the lead I was determined not to put a wheel wrong, which was tough because Jack and Tom (Ingram) were all over me, but the Civic Type R performed perfectly right to the flag. I’m so very proud to be part of another landmark BTCC moment, it is one I certainly won’t forget.
MATT NEAL

“It has been a positive weekend overall and I am especially happy to be back on the BTCC podium. They were very difficult wet conditions in race one but the Civic Type R felt composed throughout and just served to make the end third place result more satisfying. In race two I couldn’t quite hold off Tom (Ingram) in his much lighter car on the run to the line but fourth place is still a very valuable points haul. We had a very fast car in race three, but I was caught up in the tight pack and then made a mistake on a greasy track which dropped me back. Nevertheless, the pace has been strong this weekend as a whole, which gives me confidence for the upcoming rounds where I will be going all out for victory. Finally, huge congratulations to Matt Neal and the whole team for a brilliant victory in the ‘Diamond Double’ final race!”
DAN CAMMISH

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