Matt Neal

CHAMPION 2005, 2006, 2011

No-one would have known, after a bit-part appearance in the 1991 season, that former one-make and production saloon racer Matt Neal would go on to become one of the mainstays of the BTCC.

The Midlander has been in the series virtually ever since, has lifted three crowns and is the second most successful driver in the category’s history in terms of race wins.

His long-time engineer and now the technical director at Team Dynamics – which he co-owns with Neal – Barry Plowman says it’s his work ethic that has kept him at the very top.

“He works so hard at it, and he’s built up so much knowledge,” says Plowman. “He’s always thinking about it. He’s quite hard on himself: he’s not one of those drivers who would come back and blame the car. That’s why he never has too many down days, and when he does he bounces back.”

This season Neal is in the title fight and has been a winner again. “There has been a rejuvenation. He is motivated and is having to dig deep to keep up with his new team-mate Dan Cammish – and he selected him for the drive. He doesn’t like to give himself an easy life,” adds Plowman. He might not like an easy life, but he is right in the middle of the battle this season, and recently lifted the trophy in the Double Diamond celebration event to mark 60 years of the BTCC.