PERSHORE-based Honda Yuasa Racing heads into the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season finale at Brands Hatch this weekend with title glory in its sights in both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ contests.

Following a strong performance in the penultimate outing at Silverstone, Gordon Shedden will travel to Brands Hatch holding a 23-point lead in the drivers’ table, with team-mate Matt Neal similarly in contention for the coveted crown not far behind in fourth.

Honda, meanwhile, are in pole position to lift the manufacturers’ laurels for the fifth time.

Both men are in bullish mood ahead of the eagerly-anticipated showdown and optimistic that the Civic Type R will be a force to be reckoned with around the challenging Kent venue.

Shedden said: “I’m feeling good. Silverstone was always going to be a little bit of an unknown for us given how the previous three years had gone there — but our results proved just how good this Civic Type R truly is. I think we exceeded even our own expectations.

“Now we go to Brands Hatch GP, and there really is no better place to end the season.

“I’m confident our Civic Type R will be awesome again and I’m not feeling any pressure – just excitement.

“I feel comfortable inside the team and at one with the car. I can draw upon our experience from the last few years, I’m relaxed and I’m in a happy place.”

Shedden added: “I’m sure the complexion of the championship will twist and turn quite a bit over the course of the weekend but I’ll just approach it the same way I have all season.”

Neal, from Shenstone, said: “With the season heading right down to the wire in terms of the manufacturers’ and drivers’ titles, there are two key focuses for me at Brands — to help make sure we do the business on both counts.

“I need to back Gordon’s push for the top spot in the standings by providing as much support as possible, while we’ll be aiming to score the strongest finishes we can as a collective to win the manufacturers’ championship for Honda.

“There are still plenty of points on offer and everyone knows things can switch around in the BTCC, so we have to keep our eyes on the ball and concentrate on bringing home the trophies.

“I’m confident our car will be well-suited to the track.”