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Matt Neal Photo Feature

In securing back-to-back BTCC titles in 2006, Matt Neal has cemented his position as one of the BTCC's all-time greats. He has been racing in Britain's top touring car championship since 1991 and btcc:action is celebrating his latest success with a photo archive of his cars over the years. Photographs supplied by Peter Still Photographic and AE-Photography (2006 image).

	1992 Matt Neal's second year in the BTCC saw him competing for Team Dynamics (or Rimstock Racing) in his first full-campaign. He used this BMW M3 for the majority of the season, before switching to the newer model (below) for the final rounds at Silverstone. Season results: 16th overall, 2nd in class
1992 After racing for much of 1992 in the older-specification BMW M3, Neal switched to the new model at the final rounds at Silverstone, pictured right. Season results: 16th overall, 2nd in class
	1993 1993 Saw Neal start the seaon off with a new livery, a colour which would stay with him for many years. Initially the team raced the 2-door version of the M3 (pictured, left) but moved on to the 4 door version before the season was out. Season results: 20th overall, 1st in class
1993 DTM In 1993 Neal also competed in the Donington Park round of the DTM, as this rare photograph shows. Again he used the 2-door version of the BMW M3. Results: Race 1: Retired after 1 lap Race 2: 19th/28
	1993 The photograph, left, shows Neal racing in the 4-door version of the BMW M3 which the team ran in the latter part of the season. The number on the car was changed from 13 to 77. Season results: 20th overall, 1st in class
1994 For 1994 Neal switched to the Works Mazda team, which was running the Xedos model. The car was uncompetitive, and Neal's season was cut short when he had an accident at Silverstone mid-season. Probably Neal's worst-ever season in the BTCC. Season results: 23rd overall, (season cut short)
	1994 Neal also contested the World Touring Car Cup at Donington Park at the end of the year, racing in a Mazda 323 Lantis - a car that was not pretty or particularly fast either! Result: Unknown
1995 For 1995 Team Dynamics and Neal switched to the Ford Mondeo with which they had substantial success, taking the Independent's Championship once again, along with an impressive 14 class wins. Another run in the World Touring Car Cup resulted in 11th place overall and top privateer. Season results: 21st overall, 1st in class
	1996 In this season, Neal notched up 3 class wins leading to him finishing third in the Independen'ts cup, once again in the Team Dynamics Ford Mondeo (pictured left). Season results: 22nd overall, 3rd in class
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1997 1997 saw the start of a 5-year association for Neal and Team Dynamics with the new Nissan Primera. The team began the season with the Ford Mondeo, before switching to the Primera for the latter half of the year. In his first season with the car, Neal scored twice as many class wins as the previous year, but could only manage 4th overall in the independent's trophy. Season results: 19th overall, 4th in class
	1998 This season proved to be a step in the right direction for Neal and the Primera as he scored 11 class wins, far more than anyone else. However inconsistent finishing meant that once again the independent's trophy eluded him and he finished 3rd in class as Neal edged closer to the pace of the work's teams. Season results: 13th overall, 3rd in class
1999 The breakthrough! Neal became the first ever independet racer to win a round outright, scooping £250,000 at Donington Park. He challenged the works cars all season and easily won the independent's championship with a massive 20 wins in class. Season results: 8th overall, 1st in class
	2000 Much like the previous season, Neal took one win in 2000 and continued to hold his popularity with the fans for being the underdog against the works teams. He took six podiums compared to the four of 1999, but by all accounts his season was similar to that of the year previous. Season results: 8th overall, 1st in class
2000 The photograph to the right shows Neal racing at full speed in the Snetterton night races, one of the most popular events with the paying public all season. The glowing decals were to make the cars easier to identify for the trackside spectators.
	2001 In 2001 Neal attempted to put together a deal to race for Peugeot in the BTCC, but this fell through after the first meeting. As a result, Neal went back to Team Dynamics and the Nissan Primera to race in the ETCC in the final year of super touring in the world. Season results: 14th overall (ETCC)
2003 For 2003 Neal switched to a works team for only the third time in his BTCC career to race the Honda Civic Type-R alongside Alan Morrison. He took six wins during the season, winning the most races equal with Yvan Muller, but could only manage third in the championship. Season results: 3rd overall
	2004 After a year racing the works Civic, Neal continued racing the car in 2004 albeit without works backing and once again with Team Dynamics, now under the name of 'Team Halfords'. Despite knowing the car better he could only manage 3 wins even with the calendar now extended to 30 races for the first time. Season results: 5th overall, 4th in class
2005 Matt Neal and Team Dynamics best ever season in the BTCC, as they dominated even the works teams with the new Honda Integra. Only 6 wins out of thirty races but the secret of their success was the consistency of the car as Neal scored in every single round and became the first ever outright independent champion. Team Dynamics (aka Team Halfords) took all four titles in a display of brilliant dominance. Season results: 1st overall, 1st in class
	2006 Matt Neal becomes the first driver since Chris Hodgetts to take back-to-back BTCC titles in another display of pace and consistency. Unlike 2005, however, Neal was unable to finish every race and had, at times, fierce battles with closest rival Jason Plato. But the Integra withstood all the knocks thrown at it as Neal scooped top honours once again. Season results: 1st overall, 1st in class
2007 After two years with the Integra, Team Dynamics opts to switch to the Honda Civic to fit in better with the new Super 2000 rules. Due to shorter development time than the other leading teams Neal struggled to emulate the success of the previous two years, taking only one win and being beaten by his team mate. However this is down to poorer luck than in previous years, with Neal involved in a huge pile up at Brands Hatch which wrote off his car. In the end it was a year of consistent results again, but not as consistently high as in the past. Season results: 4th overall	Image credit: Mike Ward

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