Matt Neal gets to grips with his Honda engine

Stourbridge-born Neal will begin the new campaign at Brands Hatch along with his Halfords Yuasa Racing team-mates, defending champion Gordon Shedden and new recruit Andy Neate.

Three-time champion Neal, aged 49, completed his first official test day at Donington in the new look Honda Civic Type R last Tuesday.

RML Group has been chosen to supply the stock standard chassis components for the championship over the next five years, which has meant every team has had to make adjustments.

Neal said: "There are a few wrinkles to iron out because we've got a lot of new control components that we've got to use, which are very different. That's all the suspensions and cradles and everything, which all mounts up.

"We are also running the new K20 R Honda engine, which is a big change for us. The way you drive it as well and manage it is different.

"The suspension and controls we have to use this year have made the car a lot more nervous, so it's a bit more on a knife edge when we had the old one pretty sorted. The drivability of the engine is also different.

"With the new regulations, we can't get any more horsepower out of it because they cap it but it's got massive mid-range punch.

"So getting power on the ground is a real issue but it can light the wheels up pretty easily in the first four gears if you are not careful."

Neal, who lifted the title in 2005, 2006 and 2011, expects another close campaign after last year's championship was won by his team-mate during the final race of the season.

There were 10 different winners last year and Neal believes the new campaign could see more of the same.

He said: "No-one knows how they are going to perform with the new technical five-year cycle in place.

"Honda managed to get the jump on a few of our rivals last time but now we're all starting again."