Shedden faces tough test at the Rockposted in BTCC26 | 08 | 2017

    DEFENDING CHAMP GORDON SHEDDEN faces another three-race battle tomorrow to salvage a decent haul of points in the latest round of the British Touring Car Championship at Rockingham. (Related: BTCC champ Shedden bags Knockhill podium)

    The 38-year-old from Auchterarder lapped the 1.94-mile Northampton circuit in a best of 1min 23.699secs. But despite being only 0.512s off James Cole’s pole, Shedden starts his Honda a frustrating 16th for the opening race.

    “That just shows you how competitive the BTCC is,” Shedden, who enters the weekend trailing the BMW of championship leader Colin Turkington by 12 points, said. “The top 27 cars were covered by less than a second.

    “I didn’t really manage to maximise the car’s performance today, but hopefully, like at Knockhill a fortnight ago, it’ll all come right on race day.”

    At the Fife circuit, Shedden started the opening race from ninth and improved to eventually finish second in the day’s third and final race.

    While 29-year-old Liverpool driver Cole (pictured) powered his Subaru to his maiden BTCC pole position, edging out the Honda of Jack Goff by 0.048s, it was a tough Rockingham session for the two other Scots in the championship.

    Fifer Rory Butcher, who made his BTCC debut at Knockhill, starts 21st in his Ford, despite being just 0.674s off Cole’s time. Dalkeith’s Aiden Moffat lines up 28th in his Mercedes.

    Related: Rookie Rory Butcher ready for BTCC at the Rock

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    Jim McGill

     

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