With one round of the 2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship remaining, Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden helped Honda secure the BTCC Manufacturers/Constructors title and the Honda Racing team take the HiQ Teams’ Trophy.

Despite punctures in race one for the two team-mates, both drivers were able to fight back and take a 1-2 finish in the final race of the day to take the claim the two titles for the team.

“Winning these titles was our primary focus this season and we knew a good weekend at Brands Hatch would make it possible,” says Neal. “It is fantastic to achieve it. I had a puncture in the opening race and things weren’t looking good but to top it off with a one-two is such a great feeling.

“You have to have a fantastic all-round car to cope with the challenges of the BTCC. You need a good engine and chassis because you are pushing the whole time and we’ve obviously got the best one because we have won the championship!”

Honda finished the weekend on 556 points and an unassailable lead of 93 points ahead of Chevrolet whereas Honda Racing’s lead of 133 points ahead of Silverline Chevrolet was good enough for the teams title.

Speaking of the two trophy wins, Shedden said, “It was a disappointing start to the weekend with the tyre problem but we got some salvation by securing the two trophies. This is the hardest championship to win in the UK and the Honda Civic has lifted the major titles – you can’t get a better endorsement than that.”

The pair now head into the final round of the season at Silverstone with only one thing on their mind as they lie 1st and 2nd in the championship with the drivers title still all to play for. Matt Neal heads the challenge of five drivers with Gordon Shedden tied in second just five points adrift.

Photo Credit: Honda UK Media

James Mappin is the editor-in-chief covering the British Touring Car Championship. You can contact him at james@btcccrazy.co.uk, on twitter @BTCCCrazy or on his personal twitter account @jamesmappin.