Shedden first BTCC pole for three yearsposted in BTCC30 | 07 | 2016
SCOT GORDON SHEDDEN bagged his first pole position in the British Touring Car Championship for three years when he topped the timesheet for tomorrow’s triple-header at Snetterton.
The 37-year-old from Auchterarder, and the defending BTCC champ, lapped the 2.9-mile Norfolk circuit in 1min 55.627secs behind the wheel his factory-run Honda Civic Type R.
It was the Scot’s first pole position since Donington Park in April 2013. Shedden finished 0.015s ahead of the Subaru of former Knockhill race instructor and double BTCC champ Colin Turkington.
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"It was a bit random today," Shedden (pictured), who had restricted track time ahead of qualifying thanks to an unscheduled engine change in between the morning's two free practice sessions, said today.
“But it all came together in qualifying, despite the fact we essentially went straight out on-track with a set-up which was pretty much as it came out of the workshop. It was a really good lap.
“Hopefully I can get a good start tomorrow and stay out in front, which would then give me another really good grid position for the second race.
“I need championship points, and I need wins, and hopefully I’ll get those this weekend.”
While Dalkeith 19-year-old Aiden Moffat qualified his Mercedes 14th on the grid, championship leader, BMW driver Sam Tordoff — carrying the full success ballast of 75kg — could only manage 10th-fastest.
Related: Shedden bags Brands Hatch win
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Jim McGill