THIS weekend sees the return of Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship action with Pershore’s Honda Yuasa Racing Team bidding to continue their fine start to the season.

It has been more than a month since the last meeting at Thruxton but Worcestershire’s Matt Neal, the defending champion, and Gordon Shedden head to Oulton Park in good shape.

The pair are breathing down the neck of championship leader Jason Plato with Shedden just four points behind the MG KX Momentum Racing driver and Neal 10 points further back in third.

Between them, they have claimed five of the nine races so far in 2012 and will be looking to add to that tally in Cheshire on Sunday.

However, it still grates with the Pershore Industrial Estate-based outfit that restrictions have been placed on their Next Generation Touring Car to limit the amount of horsepower produced by the turbo-charged engine — effectively a handicapping system.

Three-time championship winner Neal said: “We don’t know what to expect but we are going to do the best we can.

“It’s forecast for rain but if anything that should even it out a bit. But we have won five out of nine races so we can’t complain too much.”

Neal and Shedden will also be returning to the scene of their controversial collision that saw them both crash out 12 months ago.

Scot Shedden was heading for his second successive victory in race two when Shenstone-based Neal tried to overtake him on the final corner and forced the pair off into the gravel trap.

Neal, though, is not dwelling on that incident and is instead looking forward to racing at a circuit where he has recorded four BTCC career wins.

Meanwhile, single-seat racer Will Bratt will make his debut in the championship for fellow Pershore competitors Rob Austin Racing.

The 24-year-old, who has raced in Formula Two, will take to the grid in the team’s second Audi A4 as Austin’s car is still being repaired following the Thruxton meeting.

Austin said: “It’s a deal just for Oulton at the moment but hopefully it’ll be the start of a longer relationship.

“I think he’s seen the potential of the Audi and wants to be part of the programme.

“Unfortunately, I’m not able to race as my own car is still being repaired following its very big shunt at Thruxton. Will is going to be in our second car which is fully prepared to the latest 2012 specification.”