Neal ready to haggle with Aiello

The independent Nissan Primera racer, whose win earlier in the season earned him a quarter of a million pounds, believes Aiello is too strong for the rest of the field.

But, Neal now lies second in the championship, aided by a second place last time out and the failure of almost everyone else, apart from championship leader Laurent Aiello, to score.

Donington Park was the scene of Neal's historic victory, and this weekend the BTCC returns there, although this time they'll be racing on the full Grand Prix track instead of the shorter National circuit.

Neal gave his views of this weekend's meeting to AUTOSPORT.

'I'm looking forward to Donington. At Oulton, we had to run our test engine, but when we reach the next round we should be using our full race engine.

'The short circuit, that we used last time, is mostly fast sweeping corners, apart from the final chicane. So you can set your car up for the fast corners, and just cope with the chicane.

'But half of the GP circuit is fast sweepers, while the other half is tight hairpins and the chicane. It means you need a car, which is a good all-rounder, one which is really well-balanced.

'I like Donington Park, but I always have rotten luck there - at least, until last time! I think Laurent Aiello, the works Nissan Primera driver, will be too strong for the rest of us - he seems to have seventh, eigtht and ninth gears.

'If I can just get on to the tail of him and his team-mate, David Leslie, I'll be happy - maybe we can score another Nissan 1-2-3.

'Plus Aiello will be looking for another two wins, which would bring him a quarter of a million; my plan is to get in front of him, and then get on the radio and start haggling!'