Neal: title is 'in the bag'

Neal can become the first driver to successfully defend the title since Chris Hodgetts in 1987, providing MG driver Colin Turkington doesn't out-score him this weekend.

The 39-year-old said: "I'm not one to pre-empt anything but as long as nothing stupid happens, I feel it's in the bag."

Last year Neal was involved in a title battle to the wire with Yvan Muller, but this time he could have the title wrapped up before the finale at Silverstone.

"I didn't really enjoy the last two meetings of last year because of the immense pressure I was under personally and in the points table - I'd never really been in a position to win the championship before.

"This time, though, I'm really looking forward to Brands and Silverstone. The latter half of the year was completely new territory for me, but now I know what to expect."

But despite his strong championship position, Neal knows that his fortunes aren't completely in his own hands.

At Brands Hatch earlier in the season, he was involved in a heavy collision after a tap from Rob Collard.

"If someone tags me in the first race as Collard did back in April, then I could have a big problem, so I've got to drive with that in mind.

"There was a point a few races ago where I was fed up with all the nonsense flying around. I don't mind fighting my corner, but I didn't enjoy everything that was going on."

Neal also said that he felt that rivals SEAT had shot themselves in the foot by sharing one of their cars between James Thompson and Darren Turner, pinning all of their hopes on Jason Plato.