Yuasa sponsored Matt Neal has confirmed he will be contesting the British Touring Car Championship in 2020, alongside teammate Dan Cammish, in what will be his record breaking 30th Season in the BTCC, the most of any driver in the history of the Championship.
The Halfords Yuasa Racing team driver commented, “I can’t believe it’s my 30th year! It seems like only yesterday that I was competing in my first Championship race and winning my first race and that now famous £250,000 cheque. There have been a lot of ups and downs over the years, but the positives far outweigh the negatives. The Championship continues to grow in stature, both in the UK and on a world platform and I take my hat off to Alan Gow for making that happen. The evolving regulations and the adoption of new technologies, like hybrid, fills me with excitement for what is coming downstream.
Personally, I look back on my years in the BTCC and reflect a little on what could have been, several years I’ve missed out on the Championship title by only a few points, but that’s racing for you!
But overall I look back with a wry grin on my face and feel honoured to have raced against some of the best drivers in the World, Nigel Mansell, Derek Warwick, Andy Rouse, Steve Soper, Yvan Muller and of course Jason (Plato), there are just too many to mention, but we have been graced with some amazing names and personalities over the years and I have gone head to head with them all.
I go into 2020 as hungry as ever to win my 4th BTCC title and take it to Colin, and of course my own teammate Dan, who continues to impress me with his driving aptitude. We work well as a team and I’d hope that I have played an influential part in developing him, in his time in BTCC, to be the driver he is today. Dan is undeniably quick and the old adage in motorsport is you always have to beat your teammate first. So that will be the challenge this season.
The Honda FK8 Type R is now a pretty potent package in its third season and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel testing again next month and with Honda, Halfords and Yuasa all partnering with us again for another season, as well as all our other supporting sponsors, we have the ingredients in place for an exciting year ahead. But will it be my last? We’ll have to wait and see!”
Matt Neal crossing the line at Silverstone to win his 3rd BTCC title in 2011
Dave Hodgetts – Managing Director of Honda UK added “Matt continues to be a fantastic ambassador for Honda and our company philosophy where innovation, teamwork, and a ‘challenging spirit’ remain at the heart of our business. We have developed a great relationship with Matt during 10 consecutive seasons together in BTCC and I very much look forward to more success for the Civic Type-R in 2020”.
James Hylton – Managing Director of GS Yuasa Battery Sales UK Ltd commented, “What can I say, a great friend and driver, in our 10th anniversary year with the team, it seems only fitting that Matt is celebrating this amazing milestone. He has been one of the key factors in Yuasa supporting the team for so long and it’s great to see he still has the passion and desire to try and win this incredibly competitive Championship”.
Andy Randall – Managing Director of Halfords Autocentres closed by saying “In the short time I have known Matt he has been nothing but the ultimate professional both on and off the track! He has supported the business tremendously and I really hope he can get that elusive fourth drivers crown”.
Yuasa has a long and proud heritage with Neal and BTCC racing, having been title sponsor of the Honda works BTCC team since 2011. During this time the battery manufacturer has enjoyed phenomenal success on the track, claiming an unprecedented four manufacturers titles and four drivers’ championships, including Matt Neal’s third BTCC title in 2011.
Date published: 17 January 2020
