Neal claims victory in Diamond Double BTCC race

Honda's Matt Neal creates history by claiming victory in the British Touring Car Championship Diamond Double anniversary race after holding off Jack Goff and Tom Ingram at Snetterton.

The three-time champion started the double points from second on the grid, but used all of experience and took advantage of the changeable conditions by moving his Honda Civic Type-R into the lead on the ninth lap of the race, a lead he would never relinquish.

Back at the start, Goff successfully held his lead for much of the opening half of the race, despite having to contend with a brief safety car period as the marshals recovered Tom Oliphant's stricken Mercedes A-Class.

From the restart onwards on lap five, a three-horse race began to emerge with Neal and Tom Ingram giving chase to the race leading Eurotech Honda of Goff.

However, a very brief rain shower on the ninth lap of the race gave Neal the opportunity to pounce on Goff for the race lead and the three-time champion wasted no time in dispatching the Eurotech Civic Type-R at turn one.

Initially, it looked as though Neal would break away from Goff and stretch his advantage, however, the Eurotech driver responded by latching back onto the rear of the Team Dynamics Honda, with Ingram's Toyota Avensis following in close suit.

Despite the front trio remaining nose-to-tail for the remainder of the race, the podium order remained unchanged with Neal taking a 63rd career win ahead of Goff and Ingram.

As a result, Ingram now leads the title race ahead of Team BMW's Colin Turkington, who endured a bruising race in sixth.

Andrew Jordan proved to be the top BMW runner five-seconds back from the podium order in fourth, while Tom Chilton secured fifth for Motorbase Performance.

Turkington came out on top of a ferocious multi-car battle for sixth, despite much of the front right of his BMW 125i M Sport hanging off at the end of the race.

More to follow.