Shedden unveils 2017 BTCC Hondaposted in BTCC12 | 01 | 2017
SCOT GORDON SHEDDEN has unveiled the new Honda he believes will power him to a fourth British Touring Car Championship title, and his third-in-a-row. (Related: How Shedden won third BTCC title)
The 37-year-old from Auchterarder, partnered by fellow three-time BTCC champ Matt Neal, lifted the wraps from his new black and yellow-liveried car at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham today.
The two drivers will head into their eighth consecutive campaign together in 2017 chasing another title for Halfords Yuasa Racing.
And Shedden, winner of back-to-back titles in 2015 and ’16 — in addition to his debut 2012 title — is aiming to repeat the three-in-a-row success of BTCC legend Andy Rouse. The Englishman won three titles between 1983 and ’85.
“It would be fantastic to mirror Andy Rouse’s achievements – he is a true legend of touring car racing – but there’s a long way to go yet,” Shedden explained.
“The Civic Type R was already an excellent all-round package last year, so we’ve adopted an approach of evolution rather than revolution because there’s no point in trying to reinvent the wheel – although there are definitely some developments in the pipeline.
“There have been a few subtle rule changes over the off-season and it will be interesting to see how the new Dunlop tyre performs.
“As far as I’m concerned, going into a new season as the defending champion is the best position to be in and I’m hopeful we will be there or thereabouts from the outset, even if we fully expect the competition to be tougher than ever this year.
“It never ceases to amaze me how people constantly raise their game in this championship, which is reflected in the quality entry list that the BTCC invariably attracts, and that’s what makes it so unpredictable and exciting.
“With the variables of success ballast and reversed grids, you’re not going to win every race so it’s all about playing the long game. I can’t wait to get started!”
The 30-race season gets underway with the traditional season-opener at Brands Hatch on April 1-2, before making its Scottish traditional appearance at Knockhill on August 12-13.
Related: Shedden reflects on BTCC triple title
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Jim McGill
MAIN PICTURE CAPTION: Gordon Shedden (left) and Honda team-mate Matt Neal with new 2017 Honda Civic Type R