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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">BTCC</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">26/04/2001</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">Matt Neal</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">Off To Europe</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2"> Peugeot Sport today announced the release of Matt Neal from his contract to drive the 406 Coupé in the 2001 BTCC.<BR> <BR> A last minute breakdown in negotiations with a non-motorsport related major sponsor that was to fund the third car means that only two of the 406 Coupés are likely to be raced at Thruxton on May 7. The loss of one Peugeot should be offset by the gain of a Lexus IS200.<BR> <BR> Mick Linford, Peugeot Motorsport Manager said, “I am extremely disappointed for the team and of course for Matt’s sake. It was a joint approach that failed unexpectedly at the very last moment. Unfortunately for Matt, Steve Soper and Dan Eaves were contracted first and as such, it was Matt who suffered most with the loss of the sponsor. I hope we can renew the relationship one day in the future.”<BR> <BR> “I would hope the third car will rejoin the BTCC in the not too distant future, but until additional funding is sourced, we will remain a two car team.”<BR> <BR> Matt Neal said, “I needed a commitment for the year, but when the sponsorship talks broke down, Peugeot could only guarantee part of the championship. That was unacceptable. I am very disappointed but I do understand the reality of the situation and wish the team well.”<BR> <BR> Neal will be racing his Nissan in the European Touring Car Championship on Tuesday, at Magny-Cours - Tuesday is a public holiday in France.<BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>