MATT Neal opened a slender lead at the top of the British Touring Car Championship standings following two podium finishes at Donington Park.

The Worcestershire driver won the third race in his Honda Civic Type R having finished second in race two and 17th in the first at the Leicestershire circuit.

It gives the 48-year-old a two-point cushion over second-placed Colin Turkington, while Honda Yuasa Racing team-mate Gordon Shedden is five points further back.

Shedden was third behind Neal in race three after taking 14th in the second and second place in race one.

Neal said of his race victory: “I’m over the moon – another win for the Type R is brilliant, and Flash (Shedden) getting onto the podium too is even better.”

It was a frustrating meeting for Pershore-based Rob Austin Racing with Rob Austin’s 10th place in race one the best finish between the team principal and colleague Hunter Abbott.

Austin also drove his Audi A4 to 18th in race two but retired in the third.