WORCESTERSHIRE’S Matt Neal heads into another weekend of British Touring Car Championship racing hoping to increase his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings.

Currently 12 points clear of second-placed Matt Jackson, Neal has warned fans heading to Oulton Park, Cheshire, that he is by no means favourite to win despite his early-season lead.

He said: “Obviously, I am aiming to pick up whatever points I can. However, the Chevrolets are very strong in race trim, so if Jason (Plato) qualifies at the front he could win all three races.”

So far this season, Honda- driver Neal has taken two out of three possible pole positions already.

He continued: “I’ve got to be realistic. I’m not going to beat Jason in qualifying around Oulton. ‘Flash’ (Gordon Shedden, Neal’s team-mate) is our best bet.”

Neal fears the contrasting ballast weight between the two could prove the difference.

Plato is currently 27 points behind him in the championship due to the Oxford-born driver crashing his car on two occasions, leaving him in sixth spot.

Due to this, Plato will speed round Oulton Park 70kgs lighter than his arch rival.

Neal, of Shenstone, said: “Jason should be on pole and then do what he did in the first two races at Brands Hatch, which is thrash us.

“Bear in mind he won race two at Brands from pole with the maximum 45kgs of ballast. Just think, he will be going into qualifying at Oulton 70kgs lighter than me.”

The 44-year-old has been preparing for today’s start by spending last week at Donington race track.

Joined by his team, their aim was to improve his Honda Civic and find ways to shave milliseconds off his lap time.

But heavy downpours interrupted their planned tests and the team were only able to complete four dry laps all day.

Neal added: “We didn’t really learn anything at Donington. We had actually put my car on a shaker rig and it almost shook the car to bits.”

Evesham-born Rob Austin will also be racing at Oulton Park today, hoping to improve on a dismal start to the season and put some points on the board.

His independent team have struggled to compete on the track this season and are yet to get off the mark, sitting 17th in the championship.

Qualifying and practice sessions begin today at 9am with rounds 10, 11 and 12 launching tomorrow.