He may have only competed 🃏in three races in the series proper, but Mat Jackson is a serious contender f🅘or the 2007 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship according to double champion Matt Neal.

The reiꦜgning SEAT Cupra champion was one of the stars of the opening weekend of the season at Br🌳ands Hatch, overcoming an exclusion from the opening race to come back through the field in race two and finish the weekend with a podium finish in race three.

With that in mind, Neal admitted that he believes Jackson could go all the way 🅠in his debut season and claim the title, which would bring to an end his own personal run ofꦫ championship success.

"Mat Jackson was the big surprise a🧸t Brands," Neal saidꦉ of the 25-year-old. "I think he could be in the title fight, definitely.

"He's staying out of trouble and looks li♏ke he can handle the car well🏅...and it's a quick car."

Neal added that the raft of competitive cars entered into the series this season was making the going tough into the ♚new season, with a dozen or so drivers now more than capable of ඣfighting for honours at the front.

"There are now so many quick cars out there with decent drivers in them th🌠at it's tough just to get into the top ten," he said.

Neal is second in the standings heading to Rockingham, having taken the first wi🎃n for the new Honda Civic in the thiඣrd race at Brands Hatch.