Matt Neal remains hopeful Halfords Yuasa Racing can score their first race victory of the 2018 British Touring Car Championship season at Thruxton tomorrow [20th May].
The triple champion decimated the qualifying lap record at Thruxton by nearly half a second, claiming pole position ahead of Team BMW’s Colin Turkington by 0.235 seconds with a 1:15.612.
Speaking after the session, Neal admitted he hadn’t felt the new-for-2018 Honda Civic Type R FK8 had that level of pace to hand for qualifying, but was elated with the performance on what is considered a ‘home’ event for the works Honda outfit.
“I was hanging everything out there!” said Neal.
“I honestly didn’t think we had that kind of pace in the car, but it just shows that this new Civic Type R is really up for it. I’m well-chuffed.
“This event is like a home grand prix for us, with Honda and Yuasa based just up the road in Swindon and a different livery on the car this weekend in recognition of Yuasa’s 100th Anniversary.
“Things haven’t gone our way so far this year, but we always remain hopeful. We did a good race simulation this morning, and the car was really kind to the tyres.
“The trouble, obviously, is I’ve got Colin [Turkington] alongside me with his fast-starting rear-wheel drive BMW, but it would be nice to break our 2018 duck tomorrow.”
The opening race of the weekend in Hampshire gets underway at 12:15.