Honda Racing Team pair Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden are confident their new Civic Tourer will only get faster as the season goes on, as they prepare for its second race weekend at Donington Park.

The Leicestershire circuit has proved to be a happy hunting ground for Honda in recent seasons, with at least one win every year since 2009.

Neal and Shedden head into the weekend in second and fourth in the standings respectively, after taking three podiums between them at the season opener at Brands Hatch.

Neal said: “I have a lot of special memories of Donington Park. It was where I took my first BTCC win, which really set me on my way, plus of course it’s my local circuit. It invariably attracts huge numbers of fans who all create a great atmosphere, and the racing always seems to be good as well.

“I was dead chuffed after Brands Hatch. OK, we didn’t get the win, which would have been the perfect scenario, but to score three podiums as a team was brilliant, particularly when you consider it was the first event for our new Civic Tourer and the level of competition in the field this year.

“We’re still learning the car, of course, and it has taken some adjustment to my driving style, too, as there are a few little tricky things where the Civic Tourer behaves differently from the hatchback. It certainly keeps you on your toes, but it was a really great first weekend and the car will only get better.”

For Shedden, getting the Brands monkey off his back was as important as learning the new car, and he is confident for Donington.

“The key for us at Brands Hatch was to get some solid points on the board, especially given my previous record there,” he said. “This year is the closest I’ve ever been to the top of the table after the opening round, which bodes well for the rest of the season.

“The nature of Donington Park and its corners should hopefully suit the Civic Tourer a little bit better than Brands Indy. It’s one of my favourite circuits – quick and flowing, with good undulation. It’s a real old-school track, and one that Honda has performed pretty well at over the past few years – so long may that continue.”

Team manager Peter Crolla said: “Right from our initial laps with the Civic Tourer, it has always been well-suited to long, fast corners, and we think Donington could be the first circuit we go to this year where we will really be able to exploit that.”