TWO podium finishes helped to extend Droitwich driver Matt Neal's place at the top of the British Touring Car Championship on Sunday.

The Honda ace's consistency at the Croft made sure he increased his lead over Honda teammate Dan Evans to 34 points.

Neal also fended off the attentions of Vauxhall's Yvan Muller, who is still in the race for the championship.

Muller won the second race at the Yorkshire circuit to put the Frenchman right back in contention for the championship.

But Eaves and Neal showed the Honda's dominance by securing a one-two finish in the third race.

Success at Croft means that Neal leads the drivers' championship with 152 points and the Independents Championship with 160.

The Droitwich driver, who was weighed down with extra ballast because of his success at Oulton Park two weeks before, qualified for the first race in second place behind Vauxhall's Colin Turkington, but just ahead of Muller.

However, in the race Neal was overtaken by Muller, as Turkington lead the race from start to finish.

Neal then lost his chance to bounce back after several clashes with Seat Sport's Jason Plato saw him slip to sixth.

However, Neal returned to form in the final race of the meeting, when he fought his way from fifth place on the starting grid to second.

Even more importantly Eaves' victory ensured that Muller, who finished eighth, slipped to third place in the drivers' championship.

Neal travels to Ireland this weekend to race in rounds 14, 15 and 16 at Mondello Park.