Photo: Honda
Touring car racing is the mainstay for the Honda Civic, as the hatchback gets its image there. With the arrival of the 2012 Civic, a new touring car has also been developed, and it looks like it’s going to be a top contender this year.
The Honda Yuasa Racing Team kicked off its 2012 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship challenge with victory for its new Civic at the Brands Hatch season opener.
Race one was lost, as a BMW won due to a clash that delayed the Civic. But in race two, reigning champion driver Matt Neal manages to fight off rival Jason Plato.
Race three only saw a seventh place finish for the Civic, but Neal is still second overall now.
“When he hit me the second time I smiled – in a good way!” said Neal. “He was quicker than me at that stage. Once ahead he braked a little early at Druids and I gave him a nudge. Then, at Clearways where he had been strong all day, he ran wide and left the door open.”
“The car is good,” he said. “Honda had a one-two in race two [with Andrew Jordan’s Pirtek Civic following Neal home], which is great, but it’s personally frustrating. I don’t think it’s anything the team is doing or I am doing. Everything electrical was changed and we still had the problem. When I’ve been running I’ve been fine. To start from the back and finish fourth isn’t a bad effort. The tyres last well and we had a good balance when the car was running well.”
Race one was lost, as a BMW won due to a clash that delayed the Civic. But in race two, reigning champion driver Matt Neal manages to fight off rival Jason Plato.
Race three only saw a seventh place finish for the Civic, but Neal is still second overall now.
“When he hit me the second time I smiled – in a good way!” said Neal. “He was quicker than me at that stage. Once ahead he braked a little early at Druids and I gave him a nudge. Then, at Clearways where he had been strong all day, he ran wide and left the door open.”
“The car is good,” he said. “Honda had a one-two in race two [with Andrew Jordan’s Pirtek Civic following Neal home], which is great, but it’s personally frustrating. I don’t think it’s anything the team is doing or I am doing. Everything electrical was changed and we still had the problem. When I’ve been running I’ve been fine. To start from the back and finish fourth isn’t a bad effort. The tyres last well and we had a good balance when the car was running well.”
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