Matt Neal scooped the coveted ‘National Driver of the Year’ award at the 2011 Autosport Awards earlier this week at the glamourous London’s West End venue.

The 44-year old racer took his third Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship title of his career this season and made it a hat-trick of BTCC drivers to win the award in consecutive years after Colin Turkington and Jason Plato were given the award in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

Speaking at the ceremony, Neal paid tribute to his fierce rival Jason Plato by saying, “We have a bit of a love/hate relationship. He wants to win and fight his side and I do the same for mine.”

Matt went on to say, “It is touring cars. Maybe we will do it again next year, but hopefully not to the same level. Thank you.”

Neal guided his Honda Racing Honda Civic to seven wins on his way to taking the title in the final race of the season as well as taking three pole positions and seven fastest laps during the 30-race season.

The Worcestershire-based driver will be looking to do it all over again as he has already signed a deal with Honda Racing to stay with them for the 2012 season.

Photo Credit: Pete Mainey (www.psmmotorsportimages.co.uk)

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.