PERSHORE-based Honda Yuasa Racing duo Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal are back in the hunt for the British Touring Car Championship after both celebrated victories at Knockhill.

Scot Shedden, the home hero in Fife, put his previous result at Snetterton behind him as he delighted the partisan crowd.

Starting with a strong display in race one, the Scot defended his position well, securing fifth spot as Rob Collard won.

The next contest saw Shedden, who started second on the grid, proving the prowess of the Honda Civic Type R with a surprise move at Clark’s corner taking the lead off Mat Jackson.

The 2012 champion did not look back, cruising to win as thousands of fans stood and applauded their hero.

The reversed grid of race three positioned him 10th and he made his way up the pack to finish eighth.

Shedden’s team-mate and triple BTCC champion Neal was sixth in the opener after starting from seventh position on the rollercoaster-style circuit.

He secured a steady eighth place in race two, resulting in a third-placed start for the final encounter.

Neal fought to the last in race three, firing the Civic Type R past race-long leader Adam Morgan on the penultimate lap to provide a second victory for the team.

Shedden and Neal stand second and third respectively in the drivers’ standings behind Jason Plato, who leads by 11 points.

Shedden said: “It’s been good to bounce back after Snetterton and it’s definitely nice to score good points in all three races.

“I’ve won a race and so has Matt, so we are back in the hunt and can go out fighting again in two weeks at Rockingham.

“It’s been brilliant to win at my home circuit. I’ve never seen a crowd as enthusiastic, so it’s just an amazing feeling to be part of it, especially with a good result.”

Neal said: “Considering we were looking forward to Snetterton and thought we were going to be strong there and weak here, it just shows you how quickly the whole championship can turn around.

“To bounce back with two wins just highlights the hard work everyone is putting in and how good the Honda Civic Type R really is.

“We are now second and third in the championship, which is great. I’m looking forward to Rockingham – we had a good test there last month – but it’s definitely going to be game-on for all of us.”

Evesham’s Rob Austin finished sixth in race two and fifth in race three in his Exocet Audi A4.