MATT Neal won the third round of the Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship in spectacular fashion at Brands Hatch yesterday.

The 36-year-old Honda Racing driver from Hanbury, near Droitwich, took a superb victory in the first race of the day.

Neal made a great start and gradually pulled out a 4.7second advantage before he took his mandatory tyre change at the end of lap 20.

But a slow stop left him fourth and 2.6 seconds down on new leader Paul O'Neill.

Neal set the fastest lap to take advantage of a collision between Yvan Muller and Warren Hughes. Six laps from the end, Neal started to close the gap on O'Neill with 0.5 seconds separating the two drivers as they embarked on the last lap.

Then came the decisive moment as Neal thrust his car under O'Neill at Clearways. O'Neill's car was pushed sideways with Neal and Muller sprinting through, Neal taking the verdict by just over a second.

Neal said: "On the last lap, I thought that O'Neill had it in the bag, but he left the door open for me. I didn't need a second invitation and just got through the gap. There was some contact, but I feel that it was a fair move.

"I am delighted for the whole team who have worked so hard to get me into this position after the disappointment of Mondello Park."

Neal could only finish seventh in the second race, however. He led the early stages but was delayed in the pits when another car stalled in front of him.

He stands fifth in the championship on 22 points going into the next two rounds at Thruxton on May 26.