![Matt Neal, Halfords Yuasa Racing [Team Dynamics], Honda Civic Type-R FK8](https://www.touringcars.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/025-BTCCMedia_SS_200317_071.jpg "Photo: PSP Images")
Matt Neal says he is ‘fighting fit’ for the start of the British Touring Car Championship season at Donington Park this weekend, with the Honda driver having benefitted from the extra recovery time after a pre-season biking accident.
Neal, 53, suffered a mountain biking accident back in January which saw the three-time champion suffer from multiple fractures and a collapsed lung.
However, the delay to the start of the season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has given Neal extra time to recover, with a four-month delay to the 2020 season meaning that racing only begins again in earnest this weekend.
Neal took part in the recent two-day test at Snetterton in July, as well as the test at the official season launch back in March, but has had little seat time since the 2019 season finale last October.
“It is a weird scenario we find ourselves in,” said Neal, “I haven’t raced in anger since October but the delay has obviously helped me with my recuperation from my mountain bike accident, and I’m glad to say I’m now fighting fit and can’t wait to go racing.
“It is going to be pretty frenetic this season with a number of back-to-back weekends, so the guys have been working really hard on spares packages and fully liveried panels as we’ll have limited time to make those changes.
“But I have to praise BTCC organiser TOCA in managing to pull together a near-full calendar of racing. Mind you it will be a bit chilly come the final rounds in November…!”
Racing gets underway at 11:10 BST on Sunday 2 August.