Matt Neal gave the new Honda Civic a fairytale debut after a dominant victory in the third of the day's races at Brands Hatch, the reigning champion controlling the race from Fabrizio Giovanardi and Mat Jackson.

Neal managed a superb start from the off, surging from third to first by Paddock Hill Bend and never succeeding the position throughout the 27 lap race. The result marks a surprise victory for the Civic, a car that had barely turned a wheel in anger before the weekend.

Giovanardi held off a determined Jackson to the chequered flag having botched his start from pole position but managing to battle his way back past Adam Jones, who himself had impressively given Neal the most pressure in the early stages.

Jackson meanwhile came from eighth on the grid to secure a genuine podium result after being excluded from the first race, with Darren Turner and race one and two winner Jason Plato in fourth and fifth to complete a strong day for SEAT.

Although he slipped back to sixth by the chequered flag, Adam Jones elated with a performance that saw his GR Asia-run Team Air Cool SEAT Toledo dicing with the newer Leons for much of the race.

Tom Onslow-Cole finsihed seventh as the sole remaining Team RAC BMW after Colin Turkington was tipped into a spin on the eighth lap by Darren Turner, while Tom Chilton brought the second Vectra home in eighth to ensure Vauxhall will head the Team standings.

UPDATE
Darren Turner has been excluded from the third race of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Championship season opener at Brands Hatch.

The SEAT driver had crossed the line in fourth place, but was later disqualified from the results for his part in the incident that saw Colin Turkington retire.

It means Jason Plato moves up to fourth, with Adam Jones fifth and Tom Onslow-Cole sixth.