CHAMPION NEAL WANTS IT WET AT KNOCKHILL
Matt Neal says he wants it wet at Knockhill when the Dunlop
MSA British Touring Car Championship races at the Scottish
circuit this coming Sunday (3 September) because rain will
offer him his best chance of a victory.
Two of reigning BTCC champion Neal’s 26 career victories
have been achieved at the Fife circuit – but only when
it has rained.
Neal said: “I seem to struggle at Knockhill when it’s
dry so if it’s chucking it down when I open the curtains
in the morning I won’t mind.
”In fact I wouldn’t have said up until last year
that Knockhill was a particular favourite track of mine, because
I’d only ever won there once before. But last year it
was wet and I had a very good day. The points I scored were
crucial in me winning the title.”
Team Halfords driver Neal will arrive at Knockhill in a similar
position to that which he found himself 12 months ago –
leading the championship standings but this time with two
drivers, Team RAC’s Colin Turkington and SEAT’s
Jason Plato, applying considerable pressure.
For the seventh race meeting in a row, Neal’s Honda
Integra will go into Knockhill’s BTCC weekend laden
with maximum success ballast – an additional 45kgs in
weight that the series leader must carry through Saturday’s
free practice and qualifying sessions and also Sunday’s
first race.
Neal added: “That’s another reason I could do
with rain – a wet track helps to even out the weight
and I don’t fancy lugging an extra 45kgs up the hill
out of the hairpin at the end of the lap in the dry. That
will really hurt.”
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