Shedden: I've a big target on my backposted in BTCC31 | 03 | 2016
DEFENDING CHAMP GORDON SHEDDEN heads into the opening triple-header of this year's British Touring Car Championship, at Brands Hatch this weekend, accepting he has a massive target on his back.
"No matter what sport you're in, everyone wants to beat the champion," the 37-year-old from Auchterarder, entering his 10th year racing with Team Dynamics in Britain's most competitive motorsport series, said, "and believe me, it's no different in BTCC.
"I know when I won the title for the first time in 2012 that the following season was a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be.
"But I'm that little bit older and wiser now, so I head into the opening weekend at Brands Hatch definitely better prepared."
Related: Shedden clinches second BTCC title
And Shedden, bidding to become the first Scot to win back-to-back titles and the first to pocket three championship, admits the introduction of new standardised chassis components has thrown the competition wide open.
All 32 cars on the grid have access to the same subframe, suspension and power steering. But Shedden is confident his new-look Honda Type R — which this season sees the return of Halfords as title sponsor — will be quick enough to keep him out front, albeit eventually.
“Everybody up and down the pit lane has access to exactly the same box of bits as we do," he explained, "and that means the competition will come thick and fast. At the moment it's impossible to single out anybody.
"It's entirely possible somebody will get the drop on how to make the new kit work better than anybody else, and the reality is it might not be one of the favourites on paper who finds that bit extra.
Related: The future is orange for Gordon Shedden
"We've got a new engine this year, which certainly in testing has shown it has bucket loads of potential, and solid reliability," the Scot said after completing the final shakedown of his car.
"And I know the guys who build the car at Team Dynamics haven't left anything to chance. They're as committed as I am to winning the title again."
Shedden will race with long-standing team-mate, triple BTCC champ Matt Neal, and Andy Neate, who returns to BTCC for the first time since 2013.
And the Scot is first to admit that if he can't win the title, he'd be happy if it was another Honda.
“Naturally, from a selfish, personal point of view, of course I want to beat my team mates," Shedden smiled. "But with my hand on my heart, if I can’t win, I absolutely want another Honda to win.
“I’m as confident as anyone can be, but you never know. We can talk about it all day, but we’re not going to know until we get to the end of qualifying on Saturday afternoon.”
Related: Shedden unveils 2016 BTCC racer
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Jim McGill