Despite feeling unwell with the flu, Mat qualified his Whale Tankers/Tin Top Tuesday-backed Leon Cupra on pole position for both SEAT Cupra races being run at Silverstone. This took his pole position tally so far this season to seven. Live in front of a pan-European television audience on the Motors TV channel, Mat led all the way in race one to achieve his seventh race win out of 15 starts. He also set the fastest race lap for the sixth time this season.

In race two, Mat led away from pole position but in the end had to settle for second behind Tom Boardman. Out of the 16 races held to date, Mat has stood on the podium nine times.

Considering he has twice suffered mechanical failures - once while leading - plus a non-points finish, again while out in front, Mat's current second position in the championship is a true reflection of his ambition and talent. It is also worth remembering that he has achieved his results on a smaller budget than that of his rivals. A test in SEAT Sport UK's Toledo Cupra BTCC car, as raced to victory this season by Jason Plato and Luke Hines, is just reward.

Mat says: "The BTCC test is a phenomenal prize put up by SEAT. The company really puts a lot into UK motor sport and nurturing young drivers. It's a golden opportunity to not just show what I can do but also to become part of SEAT's BTCC team for the day. SEAT has rapidly become one of the most successful and most followed teams in the BTCC and I, as I'm sure most ambitious drivers do, would love to be a part of that in the future."

In the meantime, Mat is eyeing more race victories in the final two races of the Smartnav SEAT Cupra season at Brands Hatch, Kent on 2 October.

"Why not?" adds Mat. "I always go on to the track with winning in mind, I feel I'm driving really well but improving all the time, my car's performance is excellent and I want to end the season with more victories than any other driver."