WORCESTERSHIRE touring car ace Matt Neal starts a new era in the British Touring Car Cham-pionship this weekend.

The 33-year-old from Hanbury, near Droitwich, has switched to the works Peugeot team, having won the Independents championship for the last two years in a Nissan Primera prepared by Pershore-based Team Dynamics.

He will now line up on the grid at Brands Hatch on Monday in a VLR Peugeot 406, with the hope of winning races on a more regular basis.

He said: "I am excited about the car, it feels good after our initial test, it looks good and I am looking forward to the start of the season. I feel the championship will bring closer racing this season."

Neal will be partnered in the Vic Lee Racing team by Evesham-born driver Dan Eaves, while world superbike champion Aaron Slight has signed a deal to compete in five races for the team.

New rules see the series split into two sections, for touring and production cars, with sprint races for each followed by a combined feature race.