Shedden splashes to pole at the 'Rock'posted in BTCC27 | 08 | 2016
DEFENDING CHAMPION GORDON SHEDDEN will start from pole position for the 11th time in his British Touring Car Championship career, and second of the season, at Rockingham tomorrow.
The 37-year-old from Auchterarder conquered the atrocious wet conditions, and thunder and lightning, at the Northamptonshire circuit to set a fastest time of 1min 36.338secs in his Honda Civic.
“Those were some of the worst conditions I’ve ever driven in,” the Scot, who finished 0.288s ahead of the Ford of Knockhill race winner Mat Jackson, said.
Related: Rosberg on Spa pole as Hamilton starts 21st
“At times it was just a battle to keep the car on the track because of the flooding, but we got our strategy right today, and it’s great to be starting from pole position again. It’ a brilliant result.”
But while Shedden — who endured a miserable outing last time out at Knockhill and entered the weekend fourth in the title race, 40 points off the lead — was delighted, there was misery for championship leader Sam Tordoff.
The BMW driver, along with team-mate Rob Collard, currently third in the title race, struggled throughout the session with a mystery engine gremlin. As a result Tordoff starts the first of today’s three races from 28th on the 31-car grid, one place behind Collard.
Scots Aiden Moffat and Dave Newsham will line up in 12th and 13th positions respectively in their Mercedes and Chevrolet.
Jason Plato, a winner last time out at Knockhill, starts fourth in his Subaru, one place ahead of team-mate Colin Turkington.
Related: Shedden reflects on tough weekend at Knockhill
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Jim McGill