Cleland racing to win at Masters.

John Cleland will go into his "most important race for years" at the end of season Masters event determined to prove he has lost none of his speed.

The two-time BTCC champion, who retired from racing in the series in 1999, told Crash.net that he didn't have to think twice about taking part in the end of season showdown.

"It wasn't a difficult decision to make," he said. "When Alan [Gow] called it was a matter of 'Yeah, where do I sign?' It will be a fantastic event, the only thing I can't understand is SEAT thinking they are going to get all these cars back in a fit state!"

Cleland admits that there will be intense rivalry on the grid as the 18 drivers invited to take part do battle, and the Scot admits that they will all be aiming for the same thing.

"I think there will be a lot of people out there who want to prove a point," he said. "However, everyone is a professional, they have all won a title somewhere in the world, not just in Britain, and they will all want to win.

"Whilst it will be brutal and bruising, everyone will want to finish and finish well."

That is certainly the aim for Cleland, who is glad the race is taking place at Donington, a track he has had a good record at in the past.

"I would hope I can win," he said, "that will certainly be the aim. I might even go into training before the race! For sure, this is the most important race I've taken part in for years. It will be televised, people will watch and it will be talked about for years to come.

"If there are 17 other drivers out there, then I want to beat them all. There isn't one driver I would want to see win other than me. I won't be doing anybody any favours out there and they won't be doing me any."