BROMLEY'S Gareth Howell headed to his home circuit of Brands Hatch aiming to help Team Halfords team-mate Matt Neal clinch the British Touring Car Championship.

But things did not quite work out for the team as both Neal and Howell crashed out.

Howell's weekend began well when he qualified seventh for race one where he fought his way past Rob Collard to get into sixth.

But a lap later he went off with a flat tyre.

He said: "It could have been a hell of a lot better if we hadn't had the puncture.

"After some contact I had with Rob the front left let go, so I spun out.

"It was really frustrating because I would have started race two from fifth, so I could have gone for the podium but instead had to start from the back."

Grid positions for race two were decided by finishing positions in race one so Howell started 19th but he fought his way up to eighth place at the end.

He said: "I had a really fun race and the team were happy I'd come through so well.

"Then in race three it was so close with everyone following each other.

"I just sat there, and managed to get past Rob Collard and Tom Chuilton at the end to finish fifth."

The BTCC now moves to Silverstone for the final rounds with Neal 35 points clear of second-placed Jason Plato.