Matt Neal expects more competitive racing at Croft on 14 June

Worcestershire's Matt Neal saw his lead in the British Touring Cars Championship cut to two points after the latest rounds at Oulton Park.

Neal admitted he had found it difficult to compete with his rival Colin Turkington in the first two races.

"It has been a hot weekend and it's been tough scrapping with everybody," he said.

"We put this one behind us, but we got some points and we have just got to look forward."

Turkington won the first two races of the day in his BMW despite carrying substantial success ballast.

The two victories took him into the lead in the drivers' championship ahead of Neal, who could manage only seventh and fourth-place finishes in the opening two races.

On the bright side we will not be carrying full ballast at the next one Matt Neal

Neal regained the overall lead in the final race, in which he picked up a podium spot when finishing third, while Turkington crucially failed to take any points.

Neal admitted it had been one of the toughest days of the season so far.

"I seem to have been in the middle of it all day and certainly the racing is becoming very intense," he said.

"We've been on the back foot a bit here and these have been three very tough races."

The next round of the Championship will be held at Croft on 14 June and Neal is expecting another very competitive weekend.

"On the bright side we will not be carrying full ballast at the next one," he said.

"That's down to Colin, but we will see how we go at Croft, although it's going to be pretty well suited to the BM's again.

"I like the circuit and the Vectra should go pretty well around there."

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