BTCC - Honda Racing Team Race Preview

SLOUGH, UNITED KINGDOM – Sept 16, 2011: Honda Racing Team stars Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal will go to Rockingham this weekend for the next rounds of the 2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship eager to extend their advantage at the head of the standings.

The two Civic drivers are first and second in the table and only one point separates them. This weekend’s rounds at the Northamptonshire track will be key to set up the championship run-in. There are nine races left in the battle for the UK’s most prestigious motor racing crown.

‘Flash’ Gordon Shedden won a race and scored a podium last time out at Knockhill in Scotland to move into pole position in the standings but that comes with its own drawbacks. It means he will have to carry the mandated 45 kilogrammes of success ballast into the opening race this weekend.

“Carrying the weight is a pain, but it means you are doing well in the points so that has to be a good thing,” says the 31-year-old, who is seeking his maiden BTCC crown. “Qualifying is going to be vital for us at Rockingham, and lugging that extra weight around is going to make things tough.

“There are three heavy acceleration zones and that is where it is going to hurt us but we know we have a great car in the Civic and the chassis is excellent so hopefully that will help us overcome any handicap. In a sense, Rockingham is one of the worst tracks to come to if you have to carry 45 kilogrammes but it is the price you have to pay for wins.”

As well as the struggle to carry the extra weight, Fife flier Shedden will be looking out for the driver he expects to give him the toughest time on the semi-oval layout. He thinks team-mate Neal will be hard on his heels.

“We want to win for Honda so we will be looking out for each other, but of course I want to prevail,” adds ‘Flash’. “It is going to be a really tough fight.”

Neal is also saddled with 36 kilogrammes of success ballast because he is second in the points but he thinks that the weather could play a crucial factor in this weekend’s rounds. ”I have checked the forecast and it looks like it is going to rain at the weekend, which would make things very interesting,” he says.

“I have won in the wet at Rockingham before, but it makes things difficult in terms of shaking up the order. It is impossible to predict how the others will get on in the rain, but we know that the Civic should be strong.”

Neal says that he is determined to take the fight with his rivals, and team-mate Shedden, down to the final rounds at Silverstone on October 16.

“Myself and Flash will obviously be looking after each other and we are both determined to win the title but we still need to be looking over our shoulders too. There are so many people still in with a shout of winning this championship that we can’t take our eye off the ball. This weekend will be a crucial one.”