Oulton Park Preview

Fri 4th June 2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship points leader Matt Neal is looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of his Honda Racing Team Civic to continue the hunt for this year’s title at Oulton Park in Cheshire this weekend.

The 43-year-old moved to the head of the standings after the last rounds at Brands Hatch in Kent five weeks ago and is expecting an even stronger performance from his Civic in the three races in Cheshire.

"We haven’t rested in the five-week break – far from it," explains the two-time title winner Neal. "We went testing at Rockingham and it enabled us to try some different things on the car such as tweaks to the suspension. Some of the new parts worked very well and are real breakthroughs. The modifications will be on both mine and Gordon's cars this weekend."

Because he is on top of the standings, Neal goes to the fourth meeting of the season having to carry 45 kilos of success ballast. He thinks that could be a real handicap around the 2.26-mile track.

"I love the circuit and it always provides great racing because there are plenty of passing places," says Neal. "Carrying the ballast is going to be difficult because there are lots of uphill sections at Oulton Park where 45kgs is really going to hurt us. I will have my eyes on the BMWs to perform well there and you can never discount Jason Plato but our developments mean we should be able to be right in the mix."

Gordon Shedden goes to Oulton Park sixth in the points and has a 100 per cent record to defend in Cheshire. "I have won at Oulton in every season I have raced a touring car there and it has always been in a Honda! Talk about putting the pressure on..." he says.

"I love the place because it is a real classic circuit and it gives the driver an adrenaline rush to nail a quick lap," adds the 31-year-old Scot. "Unlike Matt, I don’t have any extra weight on the car so I will be gunning for pole position to start the weekend off right. I want three big scores to push me to the front of the championship and given the developments we have made on the car, I am confident we will be right at the front."