PERSHORE-based Honda Yuasa Racing team-mates Gordon Shedden and Matt Neal return to the racetrack at Rockingham this weekend with their tails up off the back of a victory apiece last time out at Knockhill — and ready to resume their title challenge.

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship is enjoying one of the most thrilling and fiercely-contested campaigns in its long and illustrious history.

Behind the wheel of the new-for-2015 Honda Civic Type R, Shedden and Neal are right up at the sharp end of the action, sitting respectively second and third in the points standings amongst the 35 high-calibre protagonists with Honda on top of the manufacturers’ table.

Both men can boast a strong previous record at Rockingham, having each triumphed on four occasions.

Neal, indeed, won the very first BTCC race around the Northants speedbowl back in 2003 — appropriately enough, behind the wheel of a Civic Type R — and he and Shedden are eager to add to their collection of silverware in just over a week’s time.

Neal said: “I love Rocking - ham and we go there with high hopes. The nature of the layout favours a good all- round package come rain or shine.

“You need strong brakes in the dry — which is a real at - tribute of the Type R — and there tends to be a lot of aquaplaning in the wet. That can be tricky, but our car works really well in those conditions too.

Take Snetterton out of the equation and we’ve been in the hunt at every circuit this year, so there’s no reason why Rockingham won’t be business as usual.

“After two wins at Knockill, we go there on the front foot, and both ‘Flash’ and I will be on the attack right from the word go.”

Shedden: “Everybody at Honda Yuasa Racing produced a tremendous response following the trials and tribulations of Snetterton – we really showed our strength and character as a team to bounce back as well as we did.

“It was perfect timing and gave us all a real buzz. I’m feeling good and looking forward to Rockingham, which will hopefully be another successful weekend and the goal is to regain the lead of the championship."