Shedden delivers on 'brutal 'Nordschleife 12 | 05 | 2018

    SCOT GORDON SHEDDEN delivered two top eight finishes in a brutal race debut on the 12.9-mile Nordschleife. The iconic German circuit hosted the latest rounds of the World Touring Car Cup (WTCR). (Related: Shedden fired-up for world bid with Audi)

    The 39-year-old from Auchterarder, in his first season as an Audi works driver with the Leopard Lukoil Team in the WTCR, impressed in qualifying ahead of the weekend’s three three-lap races.

    The Scot posted the seventh-fastest time in his Audi RS3 LMS, but frustratingly the three-time British Touring Car champ then received a controversial 10-place grid penalty for not slowing significantly under yellow flags in qualifying.

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    Starting race one from 17th on the 27-car grid, Shedden delivered a searing performance on his first race on the mountain circuit powering through to finish an impressive seventh.

    The Scot again showed his race craft in the second gruelling race, battling through from 15th on the grid to finish eighth, despite an incident involving championship leader Gabriele Tarquini. 

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    The Italian was forced into immediate retirement after his Hyundai hit the barriers on the left-hand side, ripping the left-rear wheel from his car.

    Shedden had then looked on course for another points finish in today’s final race. But as he battled for 10th place on the second lap, his Audi was clipped from behind and he dropped to 15th. The Scot finally finished 14th.

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    “Today has been a very tough day in Germany,” Shedden admitted afterwards. “The races were brutal. There was quite a lot of damage on many cars, which is never good for anyone, but that’s the Nordscheilfe!

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    “Importantly, I finished all three races, which is good in my first visit here. Hopefully we can continue to make more progress with the car and I’m already looking forward to racing next weekend in Holland.”

    Related: Roadtest — Audi RS4 Avant

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    Jim McGill

    Photo credit: DPPI

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