Matt Neal

[telecat]

Just when you thought He might have learned his lesson after his dice with Plato in the second race He pulls a "Neal" on Jonny Adams. When are they going to penalise the wally?

[freedman]

Becuase he's been getting away with it for years.

Everyone else seems to get penalised except Neal

[mattikake]

Maybe it has something to do with his privateer to pro succeess story? Somesort of special bias like Ferrari get?

Race 3 was BTCC at it's best though. Great drive by Collard from 20th to 4th only to be blocked by a great demonstration of (clean) defensive driving by Neal that on-one else could seemingly match...

[kevin ritson]

Watch the review videos from the late '90s where he was a pinball for the works teams and being criticised by Watson and Cox for being too timid

[trophies]

Its funny, i was going to start the same thread.

His driving in race 2 was awful. Using the theory if he doesnt make a mistake, i will drive into him.

Imagine him in single seaters! He would end up parked upside down.

I have seen it too many times, I have got no problem with gentle rubbing and occasionally there is going to be contact, but he is too much.

Lew

[MGJohn]

Perfect "PIT" deployment ~ been going on for years unpunished as previously mentioned. Negates the sporting spirit ~ might just as well fit a machine gun to the car and take out other competitors that way. Sorted!

[pkh72]

I'm glad it's not just me that gets pissed off with Matt Neals inability to make a clean overtake in 90% of cases.
I'd like to see him race in the Porsche supercup or something like that, he wouldn't finish a single race.

[andy97]

It also sets a very bad example to racers in club series who think that bang, crash, wallop, is an acceptable way to go racing. Even "rubbin'" costs money to repair & there should be no place for the intentional contact accept at Hednesford, Wimbledon etc

[chevronb37]

Where did this manoeuvre take place? I was sat by Hill Top all day and thought his defensive driving against a fired-up Collard was superb in race 3 but must've missed his indiscretion in race 2. He did a solid job all weekend in terms of the championship though.

[freedman]

chevronb37 said:

Where did this manoeuvre take place? I was sat by Hill Top all day and thought his defensive driving against a fired-up Collard was superb in race 3 but must've missed his indiscretion in race 2. He did a solid job all weekend in terms of the championship though.

He just punted Adams out of his way, though I cant say what corner is was on

He had no chance of getting past so just knocked him out of the way

[RJB_666]

I don't think i've seen Neal overtake without contact. At Silverstone last year everyone cheered when Jackson got his own back on him at luffield. The way he diced with Plato yesterday was pathetic, he rammed him on the right rear side 2 or 3 times. There was no need. His excuse was that Plato used different braking points everylap, which is of course possible. But it was pure acceleration from Neal, not braking too late. Just wish Adams had been able to get past him.

[zeb]

Ah you see this is what Tim Harvey lovingly refers to as a 'classic matt neal overtaking manouvre'

I dont get why they continue to blow sunshine up his ass and just call the bad driving when they see it

neal should have fecked off to stock cars years ago, btcc doesn't need him, it needs proper racers...

[FourWheelDrift]

I reckon he's got some photo's of Alan Gow at Max Mosley's place. It's the only way I can see him always getting away with it.

[redbarron84]

It's amazing though how most people see Plato as the dirtiest driver in the BTCC.

I'm a big fan of Plato's and whenever someone points out a little bit of rubbing with him involved, i'm the first to point out that Neal is a far dirtier driver!!

[entropy]

Harsh

He deserves to be leading the drivers championship with his strong drives.

It's not the old Matt Neal where he claimed he was the people's champ and bullied his way past left, right and centre because its not happening like that every race weekend.

His battle with Plato was superb and you have to take as well as give with Collard. Nowt wrong with a bit of rubbing, the odd punt is alright because everyone makes mistakes/lapse of judgment. I just don't see Matt Neal being a complete twunt this year as he was in previous years.

[trophies]

entropy said:

Harsh

He deserves to be leading the drivers championship with his strong drives.

It's not the old Matt Neal where he claimed he was the people's champ and bullied his way past left, right and centre because its not happening like that every race weekend.

His battle with Plato was superb and you have to take as well as give with Collard. Nowt wrong with a bit of rubbing, the odd punt is alright because everyone makes mistakes/lapse of judgment. I just don't see Matt Neal being a complete twunt this year as he was in previous years.

Watch race 2 - it was awful!

Lew

[entropy]

No it wasn't. Typical response from the Matt Neal Haters Club who like to point their fingers and cry foul at every incident.

Plato did a similar move to Sheddon at Brands and got past - except Sheddon didn't like it and punted Plato off. Haven't seen the the same level of stupidity from Neal so far this year.



Edit. Not a Matt Neal fan. More of a neutral. Rob Collard has been amazing in the last 18 months. He's been accused of banger racing and turning BTCC into Premier League banger racing and turned into a fantastic racer.

Edited by entropy on Monday 1st June 16:01

[telecat]

I'm pretty certain pushing Jonny Adams sideways so that Adams was looking into the VXR's windscreen from his side window does not count as "rubbing". It was a pure smash him out of the way manoeuvre.

[entropy]

Only one discretion so far.

This time last year you could make a list as long as your arm.

[trophies]

We cant really discuss every single incident. I'm not a Matt Neal hatter, I just dont like bad driving. There is a difference between a good driver and a quick driver. There will always be incidents (brake fade or brain fade.) Matt is just involved in 2 many incidents.

In my opinion if you cannot overtake someone, it doesnt mean you should fire them off! Accidents will happen, but can not be regular.

Lew