Neal prepared for Oulton Park battle

Date published : 04 Jun 2010 - 16:59:04

British Touring Car Championship leader Matt Neal is bracing himself for a stern examination of his title credentials at Oulton Park this weekend.

Neal is joint leader of the drivers' championship alongside bitter rival Jason Plato heading into Sunday's three races at the 2.26-mile Cheshire circuit, and concedes it is impossible to predict who will emerge on top.

"It's rough to race at Oulton - just what the crowds love," Neal told btcc.net. "There are lots of overtaking opportunities with high-speed sections leading into second and third-gear bits and vice-versa, plus it's also very narrow in places so the racing can and often does become quite physical there."

He added: "It's something I'm always wary of arriving at Oulton, even more so this time as I've got myself into the championship lead. I'm under no illusions how tough this one is going to be."

The Honda Racing Team driver does not believe the main threat this weekend will come from the Chevrolet of Plato, with the two-time champion instead pointing to their pursuers as the likely pacesetters.

"Oulton is going to suit the BMWs - it always does - and the turbocharged-engined cars, the Fords and the Vectras, are going to take some catching on those uphill sections, whereas both Jason and I are going to be on the backfoot a little in that respect as our cars will be starting the weekend with a lot of success ballast," he said.

"We had a very good test at Rockingham last week but I don't necessarily believe everything we saw there was a true indicator of just how quickly some people can go."