MATT Neal is confident of success when VX Racing return to the scene of last season's British Touring Car Championship glory.

Rounds 10, 11 and 12 of this year's competition take place at Thruxton on Sunday.

It was at the Hampshire circuit where the Luton-based team secured the drivers' and manufacturers' championship 12 months ago.

VX Racing has racked up 17 wins since 1991 at Thruxton, leading many to dub the track "Vauxhall country".

Droitwich driver Neal and team-mates defending champion Fabrizio Giovanardi and Tom Onslow-Cole are looking to maintain VX Racing's good start to the season.

The team have won four races and also secured three second and four third place finishes.

They also continue to lead the drivers', manufacturers' and team standings following the last meeting at Donington Park, where VX Racing had at least one of their Vauxhall Vectra VXR drivers on the podium in each race.

Neal, third in the drivers' standings, said: "Thruxton is the fastest circuit on the calendar and the only one that hasn't been spoilt by little chicanes. It's a flat-out blast all way round and it asks for big commitment.

"It's been a tough season so far with the field having moved quite a lot closer compared to last year.

"We've shown we have a great package and, looking at Vauxhall's statistics from previous years, I feel we will be very competitive again."

Qualifying for round 10 will be held on Saturday afternoon with the first of three races taking place on Sunday at 10.55am.

Giovanardi added: "I will return to Thruxton with good memories in mind after I won my first BTCC Drivers' title there at the end of last year.

"Thruxton has always been a good circuit for us and looking at the results we have collected so far this year, I'm confident we will be strong all weekend."