download PDF in English - Dunlop Motorsport

Neal seals theBTCC titleThe fight for the Dunlop-backed British Touring Car Championshiptitle went right to the wire at Silverstone, with Honda driver Matt Nealcoming out on top of a five-way battle for the 2011 crown.Neal led the way going into the final rounds of the season atthe Home of British Motorsport and when others dropped out ofcontention, the championship fight eventually came down to a shootoutwith team-mate Gordon Shedden in the final race of the season.Holding a six point advantage, Neal then beat the Scot on track inthe season finale to become only the sixth driver to win at least threeBTCC titles.“I’d like to say I was hardened to it having won the title twice,but you never get used to the feeling,” the new champion saidafterwards.Neal’s winning margin after a season where he won seven timeswas just eight points over Shedden, while Honda also won theManufacturers/Constructors title and the Teams’ Championship.Despite eight victories, defending champion Jason Plato had tosettle for third in the standings in his normally-aspirated Chevrolet,with Mat Jackson and James Nash ending the year level on points infourth and fifth. Nash, driving a Vauxhall Vectra for Triple Eight, beatJackson to the Independents’ title after a season where he broke hisBTCC duck; clinching a maiden win at Rockingham.Triple Eight, multiple title winners while running the factory Vauxhallprogramme, also picked up the Independents’ Team Trophy.Outside the five championship contenders, there were alsovictories over the course of the year for Andrew Jordan, Tom Chiltonand Tom Boardman; the latter joining Nash in becoming a BTCCwinner during 2011, albeit in a controversial fashion at Knockhill aftera clash with Plato while fighting for the lead. It meant eight driversshared the 30 victories during the season.In total, 34 drivers appeared on track in 2011, with 15 of thosebeing first-time BTCC competitors. Amongst the rookie brigade,Frank Wrathall was best placed in the championship as he tooktwelfth place, meaning he was also the highest-placed driver using acar built to the series’ Next Generation Touring Car Regulations, withfour podium finishes in the second half of the year.Five teams entered NGTC cars in 2011 but the number willincrease next year, with Honda Racing, Pirtek Racing and TripleEight amongst those who will switch to the Next Generationmachines for 2012.