
British Touring Car star Matt Neal has decided to contest the season finale at Brands Hatch this weekend, despite being hampered by a recent finger operation.
The Honda Civic racer broke a finger during martial arts training ahead of the last round at Silverstone.
He underwent an operation after the meeting and his participation at Brands was in doubt even though he is currently second in the drivers' table.
Neal, who is 34 points behind leader Andrew Jordan in the standings, conducted a brief test at Donington Park yesterday and has now decided to race.
"My finger's not brilliant, but I've got to give it a crack," Neal told AUTOSPORT.
"I had half a dozen laps in the car. It was alright: I could drive it, but not wring its neck.
"Anything can happen so we'll just have to see what we can do."
Former BTCC star Alain Menu also drove a Civic at Donington as a possible stand-in should Neal have decided not to race.