Shedden's last-gasp stunnerposted in BTCC21 | 04 | 2014
FIFER GORDON SHEDDEN delivered the first British Touring Car Championship win for his new Honda Civic estate car when he won a thrilling final race at Donington.
The 35-year-old from Dalgety Bay, third earlier in the day's second race after finishing sixth in the opener, snatched victory with a sensational overtaking manoeuvre at the final corner of the last lap.
The move saw Shedden — five-seconds back with just five laps remaining — snatch a dramatic victory from the BMW of former Knockhill race instructor, Colin Turkington, by just 0.502secs.
"What a race," Shedden beamed just minutes after the end of today's final race. "I just missed Andy Jordan's Honda at the first corner of the race when he spun right in front of me.
"That dropped me down to sixth, but my car just came alive as the race went on. I didn't think we'd get close to the MGs today, but boy has my team worked hard this weekend.
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"The last five laps, when I moved into second, and had clear air in front of me, I sensed I had a good chance of closing the five-second gap to Colin.
"I just kept my right foot planted, and I was closing on him a second-a-lap. I almost ended up in the gravel on the final lap, but I got some brilliant traction and was able to keep fighting.
"As we approached the final right-left chicane, I took the outside line and managed to drive round him, even though we both had to take to the gravel to get round.
"It went right down to the wire, and I didn't have any time to hang about. I had to take him there, or I would have finished second.
"It was a brilliant race, and I'm seriously chuffed to have won that race, and deliver the first BTCC win for the new Civic Tourer. Two podiums and a race win: I think that adds up to a great weekend."
The MGs of Jason Plato and Sam Tordoff won the day's opening two races.
Defending champ Jordan, who finished fifth in the day's final race, and double champ Plato, head to the next triple-header at Thruxton tied for the lead, just one point, ahead of 2012 champ Shedden.
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Jim McGill