Halfords Yuasa Racing will be reduced to a two-car outfit after parting ways with Andy Neate after just one Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship meeting in 2016.
News that the Dynamics squad have withdrawn Neate’s Civic Type-R from the series came on the eve of the second meeting of the season at Donington Park this weekend (16/17 April), meaning championship leader Matt Neal and reigning champion Gordon Shedden will once again be the sole representatives of the squad.
Neate had failed to score in the season-opening three races at Brands Hatch, his TOCA BTCC Licence (TBL) now set to be reallocated to another team in time for the third meeting of the year at Thruxton.
A statement issued by the series stated: “Halfords Yuasa Racing will be a two-car squad for the remainder of the 2016 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, after ending its relationship with third driver Andy Neate with immediate effect.
“Series organiser TOCA has been kept aware of developments throughout the process and has agreed to the withdrawal of the car from the remainder of the 2016 Championship, and has subsequently recalled the loaned TBL (TOCA BTCC Licence) associated with that entry.
“Halfords Yuasa Racing still holds two permanent TBLs, which are required for each entry to guarantee participation, whilst this third licence was loaned to the team prior to the 2016 season.
“This loaned TBL shall be re-allocated by TOCA from the next event (Thruxton) to another team/entry for the rest of the season – details of which will be announced in due course.”
Neate’s departure from the series therefore trims the grid to 31 cars for this weekend’s three races at Donington Park.
