GORDON Shedden and Matt Neal strengthened their Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship title credentials at Oulton Park.

A trio of podium finishes enabled Pershore’s Honda Yuasa Racing to extend the company’s advantage in the manufacturers’ standings.

After narrowly missing out on pole position, Neal was runner-up in the opening encounter as team-mate Shedden defied maximum ballast and soft tyres to secure sixth.

From the front row of the grid in race two, the Scot pressured pole-sitter Jason Plato throughout to finish second, and Neal was fourth despite 66kg success ballast and soft tyres.

The three-time BTCC champion led the final outing until half-distance when oil on the track restricted him to third, with Shedden fourth.

“I’ve got to be happy with a second, third and fourth but I don’t like giving away wins,” said Neal, who maintained third place in the drivers’ standings, just eight points off the top.

“Flash and I came away with three solid finishes apiece so it’s onwards and upwards.”

Second-placed Shedden is only three points adrift of leader Plato.

Evesham’s Rob Austin was 15th and 14th in his two completed races with team-mate Hunter Abbott 18th, 23rd and 16th.