Honda Yuasa Racing Team aces Matt Neal and Gordon ‘Flash’ Shedden will be aiming to extend their points advantage as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship heads to Rockingham this weekend.
Despite both suffering challenging weekends at the last round of the BTCC at Knockhill, the NGTC Honda Civic duo opened up a gap in the drivers’ championship standings. Neal currently leads Shedden by 10 points, with their closest rival another 26 behind Flash.
Shedden won a race at Rockingham last year with the previous S2000 Civic and hopes the tight infield section will allow the 2012 car to make up whatever ground it loses on the straights due to the series’ turbo boost restrictions.
“I think we’ll be getting back to some corners that suit this year’s car, medium- and high-speed corners,” said the 33-year-old of the two-mile Northamptonshire circuit.
“We’ll be gaining in sector two and losing out through sectors one and three, with the straights. It’ll be interesting to see how well we can come off the slow corners too.
“Rockingham always provides very close racing – it’s rarely processional – and it’s getting harder and harder every weekend this year.”
The Honda Yuasa Racing Team conducted a two-day test at Snetterton after Knockhill and Shedden believes the Civic, which has already taken 11 BTCC wins this season in the hands of Neal, Shedden and Independent Eurotech/Pirtek team driver Andrew Jordan, is now even better.
“There were a couple of things we needed to try that were a bit risky to do over a race weekend,” added Shedden, who has won more BTCC races so far this season than any other driver. “The car is awesome as it is, but I’m confident we’ve found a little bit more.”
Neal will be battling through the pain barrier at Rockingham after injuring his wrist a couple of weeks ago. He has rested his damaged hand and hopes that he will be fighting fit this weekend as he attempts to extend his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings.
As well as holding an impressive first and second in the drivers’ table with just three rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship to go, the Honda Yuasa Racing Team heads the teams’ table, while Honda/Team Dynamics also tops the manufacturers’ championship heading into the weekend.
The Rockingham action gets under way at 09:30am on Saturday with free practice. Qualifying is at 3:10pm, and the first of three races on Sunday is scheduled for 11:32am.
In addition to heading to the circuit or watching ITV4’s live BTCC TV coverage, fans can also follow Honda Yuasa Racing’s exploits on Facebook and Twitter for news and race results as the action happens.
Despite both suffering challenging weekends at the last round of the BTCC at Knockhill, the NGTC Honda Civic duo opened up a gap in the drivers’ championship standings. Neal currently leads Shedden by 10 points, with their closest rival another 26 behind Flash.
Shedden won a race at Rockingham last year with the previous S2000 Civic and hopes the tight infield section will allow the 2012 car to make up whatever ground it loses on the straights due to the series’ turbo boost restrictions.
“I think we’ll be getting back to some corners that suit this year’s car, medium- and high-speed corners,” said the 33-year-old of the two-mile Northamptonshire circuit.
“We’ll be gaining in sector two and losing out through sectors one and three, with the straights. It’ll be interesting to see how well we can come off the slow corners too.
“Rockingham always provides very close racing – it’s rarely processional – and it’s getting harder and harder every weekend this year.”
The Honda Yuasa Racing Team conducted a two-day test at Snetterton after Knockhill and Shedden believes the Civic, which has already taken 11 BTCC wins this season in the hands of Neal, Shedden and Independent Eurotech/Pirtek team driver Andrew Jordan, is now even better.
“There were a couple of things we needed to try that were a bit risky to do over a race weekend,” added Shedden, who has won more BTCC races so far this season than any other driver. “The car is awesome as it is, but I’m confident we’ve found a little bit more.”
Neal will be battling through the pain barrier at Rockingham after injuring his wrist a couple of weeks ago. He has rested his damaged hand and hopes that he will be fighting fit this weekend as he attempts to extend his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings.
As well as holding an impressive first and second in the drivers’ table with just three rounds of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship to go, the Honda Yuasa Racing Team heads the teams’ table, while Honda/Team Dynamics also tops the manufacturers’ championship heading into the weekend.
The Rockingham action gets under way at 09:30am on Saturday with free practice. Qualifying is at 3:10pm, and the first of three races on Sunday is scheduled for 11:32am.
In addition to heading to the circuit or watching ITV4’s live BTCC TV coverage, fans can also follow Honda Yuasa Racing’s exploits on Facebook and Twitter for news and race results as the action happens.
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