Double HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship title winner
Matt Neal has admitted that any one of six drivers could still secure the 2008 crown heading into the seventh round of the campaign this weekend at Oulton.
The VX Racing man, winner of back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006, is one of eight drivers to have won a race this season in what has emerged as one of the most open championships in recent years – with only defending champion Fabrizio Giovanardi having managed to open up any kind of advantage over the drivers behind him in the standings.
Indeed the Italian currently leads Neal by 34 points in the standings but just 29 further points cover Neal in second down to the third VX Racing driver
Tom Onslow-Cole in sixth.
Heading to the Cheshire circuit, Neal admitted that any one of those top six – which also includes
Jason Plato,
Mat Jackson and
Colin Turkington – could still lift the crown come the season finale at
Brands Hatch in September with the gloves now off in the title fight.
"Every driver tends to be very polite to each another at the start of the season, but the gloves are off now," he said. "We all want to win. You've got six drivers who can still win the championship and we are at the point of the season where it is make or break. The stakes are being raised and the season has never been so exciting.
"
Oulton Park has to be the most challenging circuit in the UK. It has got big, high commitment corners and fast straights with little run-off area. The great thing about the place is that spectators can get 15 or 20ft away from 130mph cars.
"You can rest assured that they will be seeing some spectacular action as well, because the circuit demands respect and concentration at all times - there will be drama."
Neal added that he wouldn't want to bet on the outcome of the weekend's racing, with a number of drivers capable to securing victory in the latest three races of the campaign.
