Shedden bags two BTCC podiumsposted in BTCC07 | 05 | 2017
SCOT GORDON SHEDDEN vaulted from fourth to second in the title race as he bids to win his fourth overall, and third successive, British Touring Car Championship.
The 38-year-old from Auchterarder bagged a significant points haul at the latest rounds at Thruxton, twice finishing second in his Honda Civic Type R, and crossing the line fourth in the day’s finale.
And not only did Shedden outscore his principal title rivals, but it was a good day for his Halfords Yuasa Racing, Matt Neal.
The three-time champ started the opening race from pole position, with Shedden alongside him on the front row, and converted it into his 60th career triumph. The result saw Neal draw level with tin-top legend Andy Rouse in equal-second place on the all-time BTCC winners’ list.
“To qualify on the front row with 75kg in the car definitely exceeded my expectations,” Shedden, the 2012, '16 and '17 champ, and who heads to the next round at Oulton Park just 17 points behind current leader Tom Ingram, said.
“Every lap was an adventure as I tried to keep my foot in for as long as possible through the faster corners around the back of the circuit; there wasn’t much left in the tank!
“I got a slightly better start than Matt in race one, but he was a lot lighter than me so I didn’t force the issue too much.
“It was fantastic for him to take his 60th BTCC win, and a tremendous effort from the boys to get a one-two. It was disappointing that we didn’t have another five or six laps in race two because we were clearly quicker than Rob (Collard), and then race three was another good finish.
“You always want more of course, but we left with three very solid results and a strong points haul – and that gives us a lot of confidence going to Oulton Park.”
Team-mate Neal, understandably, was delighted with his 60th BTCC career win.
“After the disappointment of Donington, we needed to bounce back and I’m really going to cherish this 60th win,” he said. “‘Flash’ certainly made me work for pole, and to come away with a Halfords Yuasa Racing one-two and a Honda podium in the first race was a dream.
“I felt a bit wounded after race two, because that was another win in the bag until I had the power-steering issue – ‘Flash’ and I could really have made hay out there – but the car was magnificent in race three powering through from 29th to 11th.”
Dalkeith 20-year-old Aiden Moffat, fresh from his first BTCC win last time out, brought his Mercedes home in 12th, ninth and 11th places. Inverness-based Dave Newsham bagged a 15th, 13th and 12th in his Chevrolet.
Related: Shedden starts BTCC defence with win
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Jim McGill