Neal: SEAT have thrown it away

The reigning champion goes into this weekend's finale at Silverstone with a comfortable 35-point lead over Jason Plato, and Team Halfords are ahead of SEAT in the team's championship.

"We haven't won this championship - SEAT has lost it," said Neal. "Their car, the Leon, is very fast but we've kept plugging away and their misfortune has enabled us to be in this position."

SEAT will run all three of its drivers for the first time this year, as Darren Turner and James Thompson both try to help the team secure the manufacturers' title, and put pressure on Neal and his team in the other championships.

Neal isn't worried about the extra threat from the Spanish cars though, and despite being aware that nothing can be taken for granted, he takes comfort from the fact that he's done it all before.

"Jason (Plato's) team has rolled out an extra car for this race, but I don't see that making things any different to how it's been all year.

"The final stages of last year were new territory, but this time I know what I've got to do and how to stay out of trouble.

"But just look at Michael Schumacher in Japan, he broke down in a car that never breaks down. It's a reminder to everybody that it's not over until it's over."