Spotlight 1 Matt Neal Jan 2011

UNDER

With Clare Lawrence Matt Neal, born 20 December 1966 in Stourbridge, has been the British Touring Car Champion twice since he first entered the BTCC in the early nineties. His debut season was in 1991 and has worked extremely hard to get the titles he can now lay claim to. He has appeared on Top Gear, racing a variety of vehicles in various series. He has had 429 starts; 35 wins; 10 poles; 34 fastest laps and best finishes, with 1st positions in both 2005 and 2006. He won the Independents Trophy for drivers without manufacturer support 6 times before becoming a factory pilote. Matt, great to be chatting to you…What have you been up to recently? Working nonstop as ever; we are working on the development of our car for next year and engine package. Also, keeping in contact with current supporters / sponsorship and relations and networking too. The team is going to run cars in the Porsche Championship next year also, so there is a lot of sorting out with that. Then there are my commitments at the wheel factory. In between it’s just spending as much time as I can with my family.

Is there anything else that compares to racing?

A R

I’m 44 now, and have calmed a little. Still could called a little immature by some, but I just try and go about life with a positive attitude. I was always one when younger, if someone jumped off a wall, I’d have to find a higher one to beat them. Whether it is on bikes, cars - motorised or not I’m a great believer in doing things for the crack and life experience.

A C

O C

If I am honest: it´s probably not. If you do anything long enough it does become like a job, even though it was the job I always dreamed about. That and if you drink your favourite drink every day for 15 years, gradually it doesn’t have the same appeal any longer. Might be a strange way of putting it but I think it’s a good way of explaining. Plus there is a lot of stress and hard times, you just have to get through those and believe good ones will come. As for the driving side, I was just chuffed to be in the car driving fast when younger, now that bit comes without thinking and you take in the bigger picture of development etc.

T R

Bathurst in Australia or Nurburgring in Germany, because they are dangerous intimidating circuits unspoilt by health and safety features. If you win at one of those it is very special and you’ve really achieved something. Do you have a least favourite?

Silverstone National Circuit, I love Silverstone but they have numerous different circuits, the smallest and most simple one being the National, it only has three proper corners then three long straights, so whoever has the fastest car in a straight line wins, and for me that’s not racing.

T E .N

I am committed to Honda Racing and Team Dynamics in the BTCC for 2011 which is fantastic. Both are looking longer term with a great car so it’s very exciting.

R E D

Absolutely heaps, but racing rings my bell and that’s where I’m at. Where is your favourite place to compete?

A T S

What do you have planned for the foreseeable future?

It’s just a great rush with, on the odd occasion, a bit of fear chucked in for good measure. But I think it’s not just racing that gives you a rush like this but many challenges in life, and not just sports challenges.

People who pursue extreme sports are usually extreme in other areas of their life too. Is there some other area of your life where you are also extreme?

Is the buzz when you drive still the same now, as it was when you first started out?

MATT NEAL

Can you explain how it feels when you are behind the wheel?

Do you think that your boys may follow in your footsteps? If they want to, I have asked myself this, but do they have the same passion I did when I was their age? I don’t think so. Maybe because there is so much else to do, and also maybe because it’s been in their face since they were born so it’s like the norm. If they want to I’ll try and help them achieve their dreams as much as I can, as my Dad did for me. I see from your website that you like to keep active, what would you say is your favourite sporty activity, besides your career? I do a lot of gym work, but also took up martial arts 5 years ago, I go about 4 or 5 mornings per week, so I am well into it. It’s like any sport or thing I do or have done, I have never enjoyed being average, if I do something I want to do well and win or lose just be proud of what I have achieved and the effort I’ve put in.