MATT Neal extended his Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship lead to 39 points by winning his 300th race in the competition.

But the day ended in controversy when the Droitwich driver lost the third-placed result he achieved in race three at the Croft circuit, North Yorkshire.

The BTCC's clerk of the course initially reprimanded Neal for overtaking Jason Plato at the final corner by placing all four wheels off the circuit.

But a subsequent appeal by Plato's SEAT team was then upheld by the BTCC stewards who judged Neal's actions had gained him an unfair advantage.

He was thus demoted a place to fourth and Plato was elevated to third.

Plato, third in the championship, gained five points on Neal in the title race which now heads to Donington Park, Leicestershire, on July 30.

Plato and James Thompson picked up the other victories as Neal increased his lead over second-placed Colin Turkington.

Team Halfords driver Neal said of the race three incident: "It was just one of those things -- there was certainly no malice in it.

"I'm just sorry Jason took it so badly, but I'm not going to get upset about it. I tried but it wasn't to be.

"Overall, I'm really pleased with the way my day has gone. I've still pulled four points on Colin and Jason's only made up five on me.

"To win in my 300th race was also a bit special but above all we're still well clear at the top of the table.

"Again, my car will go into the next meeting with maximum success ballast and at a place like Donington that could hurt us quite a bit.

"We won there last year but it was the first round and I think we simply caught the others on the hop.

"This time I think it'll be a lot harder, although I thought Croft might cause us a few problems."

Turkington said he was disappointed not to have trimmed the gap on Neal.

And SEAT star Plato, now just five points behind Turkington, said: "We need to be gaining more than that on Matt at each circuit if we're to nick the title off him.

"I think Donington should suit our car -- it's got lots of medium to fast turns and that's where we can give the others a proper race. There's still a long way to go."

Neal's Team Halfords squad has dropped to second in the teams' championship, two points behind SEAT Sport UK.

SEAT have increased their lead in the manufacturers' table over Vauxhall from 34 to 77 points.

But Neal and Team Halfords have consolidated respective leads in the independents trophy's drivers' and teams' standings.