Shedden fired-up for BTCC title chargeposted in BTCC30 | 09 | 2016

    DEFENDING CHAMP GORDON SHEDDEN has admitted he will “throw caution to the wind” at Brands Hatch this weekend as he bids to overhaul an 11-point gap to retain his British Touring Car Championship. (Related: Shedden delivers "drive of my life" to win 2016 BTCC title)

    The 37-year-old from Auchterarder is bidding to make history by overtaking Scottish stars Jim Clark and John Cleland and become the first Scot to win the coveted title for a third time.

    And there’s a touch of deja vu about about the weekend, as Shedden finds himself in exactly the same position as last year, with the opportunity to win the title on the final weekend.

    “Yeh, you’re right,” Shedden, who has already won four times this season, including the final race last time out at Silverstone, and now lies immediately behind the BMW of championship leader Sam Tordoff, laughed.

    Gordon-Shedden-Silverstone-16-2.jpg

    “We’ve been here before 12 months ago. I’m really looking forward to it, because no one expects us to win it. We’ve been on the back foot for much of this season, but I’ve managed to drag myself back into contention, and it’s exciting.

    “Of course, I’d rather have the 11 points than be in the position where I need to make them up. However, we know how seriously quickly the situation can turn round in this sport.”

    And the double BTCC champ, who is determined to mark his 10th season racing with Honda by lifting the title, admits he’s going to change his approach to the racing weekend.

    “Unusually, my approach will be different this weekend,” he admitted. “All this year, all I’ve said to myself is, I’ve got to keep getting points. Stay out of trouble, keep racking up the points and make sure you go to the last round with a chance.

    Gordon-Shedden-Silverstone-16-3.jpg

    “Well, you know what, sod it. I’m going to throw everything at it this weekend and see what happens. Because if I don’t, then I don’t deserve to win it.

    “If I don’t take that approach, at the end of the day on Sunday, if I haven’t won it, I’d be left thinking what might have been.

    Now isn’t the time to be playing the percentage game. Now is the time to get the sleeves rolled up and go proper racing.”

    Shedden acknowledges that Saturday’s qualifying will be crucial to his title hopes, as will the draw for the reverse grid for Sunday’s final race.

    “I’ll be carrying 66kg in success ballast, which is like having a passenger in the car for qualifying and the first race on Sunday,” Shedden explained.

    BTCC-Shedden-Brands-Pre-2.jpg

    “That’s why it’s super important to do something special on Saturday in qualifying, and try and get the best we can.

    We really need to be in the position to capitalise on good starts for both the first two races on Sunday.

    “I think, like last year, the championship fight will go to the last race on Sunday, and probably the final few laps.

    “I think the championship could be massively influenced by the reverse grid draw: I think one of us will be at the front. Then all you can do is keep pushing to the very, very end and see what happens.

    “It worked for me last year, so hopefully lightning does, actually strike twice. I do think the is going to be one of the most exciting finishes to a BTCC season ever.”

    Related: Honda reveals 2017 Civic Type R Concept

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    Jim McGill

     

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