Neal: BMWs tough to beat at Oulton

The two-time champion leads the race for the title after one win and six other podium finishes so far this season for Vauxhall.

But, with the maximum 45kg of success ballast on his car for the third round in succession, he thinks he will have his work cut out to hold off the rear-wheel drive machines at the Cheshire circuit.

"The track will suit the BMW's with its long straights and up hill drags, that's for sure," said Neal. "So my aim for this weekend is to qualify well and get three strong scores in the races.

"It's going to be tough though, especially on the brakes as I have maximum ballast [45kg] on the car. I'd say there are about 10 drivers that could possibly win this weekend."

Colin Turkington, who is Neal's closest championship challenger, 13 points behind, has tasted victory at Oulton for the past two seasons.

After a positive pre-season test for the WSR team at the circuit, he believes that it gives him his best opportunity so far to open his 2009 account.

"Oulton and Croft, which follows in mid-June, are both great opportunities for us and we need to capitalise if we can," Turkington said. "I said before that Oulton and Croft were the two I really had my eye on.

"We've had wins the last two years in wet and dry conditions at Oulton and now would be a good time to start scoring some big points. All it needs is a top three for me and a non-finish for Matt and we'll be right back with him again."