Special report from the Rockingham Circuit.

MATT Neal is gradually getting to grips with the demands of his new Vauxhall Vectra, as he prepares to line up for the start of 2008 British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch next weekend.

The Droitwich speedster has switched from Halfords-sponsored outfit Team Dynamics to VX Racing for the new season, where he will race alongside defending champion Fabrizio Giovanardi and promising young driver Tom Onslow-Cole.

Neal enjoyed a successful spell at Team Dynamics, winning back-to-back titles in a Honda Civic which was designed specifically to suit his racing style.

And while he is relishing a new challenge with the most successful team of the modern BTCC era, Neal admitted he has had to contend with some major differences while getting accustomed to his new vehicle.

"We have had a few weeks testing pre-season," he said.

"It's a new car and new team for me so it is nerve wracking at the moment.

"The Honda was very much designed around me and I like a car where the front is nailed down.

"So the rear is very loose and it is over-steering a lot of the time.

"This has been designed more around Fabrizio's style. He has the rear nailed down to the floor, so it picks up more under-steer.

"It is just different ways to skin a cat, but it is probably not what I am used to."

2007 was a patchy season for Neal, who managed to secure fourth place in the driver standings, despite failing to pick up any race victories.

This time around, he believes the toughest competition will come from his own team-mates.

"Fabrizio is very fast. He is a tough customer, you just have to look at his CV and all of the championships he has won," said Neal.

"There is a lot of competition up and down the pit lane but from inside it is going to be tough."

BMW's Matt Jackson set the pace at the BTCC's annual launch event at the Rockingham Circuit in Northamptonshire last Wednesday with a best lap of one minute 24.385 seconds, but Neal showed encouraging signs, finishing eighth fastest, just 0.637 seconds behind the leader.

However, he believes many of his rivals will be holding back until the opening rounds of the championship.

"I don't think anyone is playing their full deck of cards here at the moment," he said.

"I think you'll get an idea of what it is all about but the first race is when it is going to count."