Shedden makes solid start in Moroccoposted in WTCC07 | 04 | 2018

    SCOT GORDON SHEDDEN made an impressive debut in the FIA World Touring Car Cup when he was promoted to fifth in the opening race in Morocco.

    The 38-year-old three-time British Touring Car champ from Auchterarder, racing his new Audi RS3 LMS for the first time, crossed the line sixth having hounded the Hyundai of local favourite Mehdi Bennani for the whole race.

    But the Moroccan, who took the chequered flag in fifth, subsquently received a 10sec penalty from race stewards for causing an accident, and was demoted to ninth, promoting Shedden to fifth.

    “That’s a great, solid way to start the season,” Shedden, who at one stage had the fastest lap of the race, and finished just 5.7secs behind the winner, said afterwards.

    “We’ve shown we have the pace. Now we have to build on that for the second race on Sunday. I know we can make a few wee tweaks, and I’m sure we can be even faster tomorrow.

    Related: Shedden fired-up for world bid with Audi

    “I think I was one of the few people that passed people in the first race off the start. It’s new for me, as I know people struggle with brakes around here, I’d never done a race distance here before, and with it being wet this morning it was also our first dry running, so there were so many new things. It was just a question of getting it to the end and getting some points.

    “It was difficult to take risks in Saturday’s quali, but now I’ve got a bit more understanding of what I need to do in the car I’m looking forward to second qualifying.

    “It’s pretty cool having another quali to go at it again. It’s going to be super-close again, so hopefully it works for us, but I’m glad we’re in the mix.”

    The race was won by Gabriele Tarquini. The Italian led home a Hyundai 1-2, finishing 0.729s ahead of Swedish team-mate and polesitter Thed Bjork.

    Related: Shedden switches to WTCR with Audi

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    Jim McGill

     

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