Matt Neal has enjoyed a solid season to date in the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship as he lies second in the standings behind team-mate Fabrizio Giovanardi at the half-way stage of the campaign.
Here he talks to
Crash.net about the season so far and the general state of the BTCC in its 50th anniversary season...
Crash.net:
Half way through the season now, has it gone as you expected it to?
Matt Neal:
Better than expected I suppose. For performance speed wise, I'd like to have more, but to be second in the championship at the half-way point is a lot better than I thought going into a new team, with a new car and a tough team-mate.
Crash.net:
How good was it to return to winning ways at Rockingham?
Matt Neal:
It wasn't a long drive home that's for sure as sometimes when you have a bad weekend the drive home can seem to take forever! It was draining as the concentration it takes to drive in those conditions is immense. It was good to see the chequered flag.
Crash.net:
You've done well in the wet but you aren't that fond of racing in the rain
Matt Neal:
I'm not a big fan because one little mistake can have a massive influence, not just on the race, but on the whole weekend if you go off. I do seem to touch wood do alright in the wet and maybe that is the experience coming out a bit, but maybe it is just down to luck. But I'm not disappointed when I see the rain coming down!
Crash.net:
How much of a change has it been going from the family run team to Vauxhall?
Matt Neal:
I think more than I thought. They get to the same result but do everything in a totally different way. It is one thing adjusting to that, and adjusting to a new car and new environment and then to seeing my father's team and some old friends further up the pitlane. It is different but I'm getting used to it. The team are a very friendly bunch who are serious about winning and the Vectra is a good car. I can't complain about it.
Crash.net:
You are a back-to-back title winner. How proud are you of the way your record stands up against the BTCC greats?
