Neal, Honda get suspended penalties for Rockingham BTCC remarks

Triple champion Neal made remarks to AUTOSPORT concerning the regulations and treatment of the works Honda squad after the difficult round at Rockingham earlier this month.

Series boss Alan Gow requested that the championship stewards look into the matter to determine whether it was prejudicial to the championship and/or had brought the championship into disrepute.

A series statement said that, after a meeting on Tuesday September 23, it was decided that Neal's remarks "are prejudicial and have brought the championship into disrepute", with penalties being imposed under regulation 4.4.4.

Team Dynamics has thus been fined £25,000, with its two TBLs - currently used by Neal and Gordon Shedden - revoked, but both penalties have been suspended until December 31, 2015.

The statement continued: "Team Dynamics and Matt Neal are highly valued participants in the BTCC, whose participation spans more than two decades. Their deep and long-term commitment to this championship is greatly respected and valued.

"In view of this the championship administrator suspends both penalties until December 31 2015, on which date these will be discharged if no further infractions occur during that time."

Neal said: "I regret the comments made to a member of the press in the immediate aftermath of the recent BTCC event at Rockingham and sincerely apologise for any offence they may have caused.

"It was never my intention to bring the series into disrepute and therefore I understand that my comments were unacceptable and completely accept the sanctions imposed.

"I am fully committed to Honda, Team Dynamics and the BTCC - a series I have loved and raced in for many, many years - and look forward to moving on from this incident with immediate effect."