Q&A: Matt Neal – EXCLUSIVE.

Friday, 16th March 2007

After two seasons with the Honda Integra, a new challenge awaits Matt Neal for the 2007 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship as he prepares for his first year at the wheel of Team Halfords’ new Honda Civic.

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Matt Neal:
It’s a mixture of anticipation and excitement – or maybe nervousness is a better word. I’m eager to find out what it will be like, whether that is good or bad, and then get stuck in to taking the thing forward.

Q:
The media day at Rockingham allowed us to see the Vectra in public for the first time and there were the other front-runners like the SEAT and Team RAC’s loan car on track. What did you make of the performance we saw from the cars there?

Matt Neal:
I think they all went very well. I think SEAT are playing a game with everyone at the minute though.

Q:
You think there might be some sandbagging going on there?

Matt Neal:
Yeah, its very flattering for Vauxhall to be at the front but they are being naïve if they believe that that is the true pace of the SEAT at the moment.

Q:
So you still see SEAT as being the biggest rivals going into the new season?

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Matt Neal:
Absolutely. I don’t think they have shown their true form just yet.

Q:
The entry list shows 27 cars and many of those are capable of winning races. How tough, and how competitive is the season ahead going to be?

Matt Neal:
Really tough. If you are not at the sharp end and fighting to get into the top six, there is a mighty number of drivers who will also be trying to do the same. It’s going to be really, really tough.