It’s crunch time with the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship taking place at Brands Hatch this weekend.

Time is running out for many of the drivers to mount a challenge, tensions are running high.

The championship kicked off on the Indy circuit back in April and the full 2.3 mile GP loop will be used this time, for the UK’s biggest car racing series.

Matt Neal, Gordon Shedden and Jason Plato are the favourites to lift the 2011 crown, but with just 6 of the 30 races remaining, remarkably seven drivers remain in contention for the title. However four of these will need to have a successful weekend at Brands Hatch to stay in the hunt. For Rob Collard, Andrew Jordan, James Nash and Wrotham-based Airwaves Racing’s Mat Jackson, this is their last chance and they will be desperate to win.

Jordan has been scoring consistently throughout 2011 in his Vectra but has slipped behind in the points, whilst BMW driver Collard’s form has improved of late but faces an uphill task. Nash, on the other hand, scored his maiden win at Rockingham and is determined to add another remain in contention.

For Jackson, Brands Hatch is the most important weekend of his season. Two disastrous weekends at Knockhill and Rockingham have threatened to derail a championship challenge that he was leading just a few weeks ago. He is now three wins behind the leaders, so he must score highly at Brands Hatch this weekend.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Jackson. “Brands Hatch is one of the most challenging circuits in the UK and it has been a good circuit for me, as I had a win there last year in the BMW. Everyone has worked very hard over the last three or four weeks and we haven’t got the results we deserve.”

At the top of the table, Plato’s late season charge is gathering momentum and has already rattled bitter rival Neal. The tension boiled over when the pair almost came to blows at Rockingham and it will take little for this to flare up again this weekend.

“It’s not good for the stress levels but I’m sure Alan Gow likes how the championship standings are heading in the final few rounds of the season,” commented Neal. “It’s definitely a three way title fight now with Chevy coming on very strong in the hands of Jason Plato.

“I think the Chevy will be strong at Brands Hatch but the Honda’s handling should be mega. It will be interesting to see how we cope with the haul up the hill and onto the Grand Prix loop but who knows what will happen and who will be strong.”

Meanwhile Neal’s team mate Shedden continues to rack up the wins and points, leaving him the joint leader on points. Honda’s shared focus between the two drivers may work against them as Chevrolet put all their resources behind Plato.

“It’s always crunch time but there’s six races to go and anything can happen,” Shedden added. “The Brands Hatch GP circuit is one of my favourites it is a real old school track and I think the Civic will be strong. I like to think Brands Hatch owes me a bit of luck. I thought my season was already over before it had begun after the incident on the Indy circuit (in April), so I hope I get some lady luck this time.”

Recent history shows that Jackson has performed well at the Brands Hatch GP circuit and whilst the turbo cars that he and the Honda drivers enjoy should hold an advantage on the track’s long back straight, Plato’s normally aspirated car has been given a recent boost in the regulations. The Chevrolet driver also dominated the Indy circuit meeting back in April, so whilst it won’t be easy to predict who will be in with a shout of the title by Sunday evening, it will certainly be fun finding out!

Raceday tickets for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch are available on the gate for £30, with free entry for children aged 12 and under. For more information, call 0843 453 9000 or visit www.brandshatch.co.uk