HONDA UK celebrated a season of sparkling success in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Managing director Philip Crossman and drivers Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal picked up their trophies at the star-studded TOCA Night of Champions.

Pershore’s Honda Yuasa Racing had a brand new weapon at their disposal in the Civic Type R race car, which stole both the headlines and the silverware.

After winning on the car’s first weekend of competition in the Brands Hatch Indy curtain-raiser, Shedden went on to claim a further three victories over the campaign and 11 podiums in total.

In a dramatic finale, the Scot clinched his second drivers’ crown at Brands Hatch’s legendary GP Circuit.

He scythed through the field from 19th to fourth, knowing that anything lower than sixth was not enough.

Team-mate Neal, of Shenstone near Kidderminster, tallied three triumphs of his own en route to third spot in the standings — the eighth time the multiple BTCC champion has wound up in the overall top three.

That allowed Honda to safely secure the manufacturers’ laurels before the last race.

At the Crowne Plaza Heythrop Park Hotel, Oxfordshire, Shedden, Neal and Crossman lapped up the plaudits for another phenomenal campaign with work already well under way to do even better in 2016.

“What a season!” said 2012 and 2015 champion Shedden.

“We had it all to play for with an amazing car, which began life on a sketch pad.

“It’s been a fantastic journey for the team. This series is the toughest in the world and it’s only going to get tougher next year — and we can’t wait!”