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BTCCRockingham rumblesThe race for the 2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championshiptitle took a fresh twist at Rockingham during the eighth round of theseason; with heated action both on and off track and jointchampionship leaders at the end of the weekend.Heading into the weekend, Honda driver Gordon Shedden held aslender one point lead over team-mate Matt Neal but it wasdefending champion Jason Plato who secured pole after acontroversial qualifying session which ended with an altercation withlong-term rival Neal in pit-lane. Both drivers were later fined byofficials for their actions.Plato won the opening race of the weekend for Chevrolet ahead ofPaul O’Neill, while Neal outscored Shedden to move into thechampionship lead. However the Scot then reclaimed top spot whenhe came from sixth on the grid to win race two ahead of FrankWrathall’s Toyota.Early contact in race three left Shedden down in 21st while Nealtook sixth place, leaving the Honda pair level on points at the top ofthe standings with two rounds and six races left to run.Victory in race three went to James Nash, his maiden victory, whileRob Austin took second in his Audi on a weekend when NGTC-speccars finished on the podium in all three races.BTCCBTCC goes down to the wireThe Dunlop-backed British Touring Car Championship title fight willgo to the wire at Silverstone after the penultimate weekend of theseason at Brands Hatch saw Jason Plato and Matt Neal share thevictories.Neal went into the weekend level on points with Honda team-mateGordon Shedden, but both failed to score in race one as Plato tookhis seventh win of the season. A second win for the Chevrolet man inrace two then saw him move ahead in the standings as Neal andShedden had to settle for seventh and eighth places having startedtowards the rear of the field.A top ten reversal of the grid for the final race of the weekendplayed into Honda’s hands as Neal and Shedden quickly moved tothe front and claimed a 1-2 finish, briefly swapping positions toensure both drivers picked up a bonus point for leading a lap. Fromtenth on the grid, Plato managed to finish sixth and he will now go toSilverstone level on points with Shedden in the title race, but withNeal holding a five point advantage.Honda’s 1-2 finish in the final race was enough to provisionallysecure both the manufacturers’ and teams’ titles.