Shedden bags late podiumposted in BTCC08 | 06 | 2014
FIFER GORDON SHEDDEN heads to the next triple-header of the British Touring Car Championship at Croft, near Darlington, in three weeks having closed the gap in the title race.
The 35-year-old former champ from Dalgety Bay, who started the latest round at Oulton Park trailing Andrew Jordan by eight points, is now just seven behind the BMW of new leader Colin Turkington.
While Turkington, the former Knockhill race instructor, won today's opening two races and bagged fourth in the day's final counter, Shedden (pictured in action in Race 3) was happy with his haul.
"Oulton was always going to be one of the circuits this year which didn't suit my Honda Civic Tourer," the 2012 champ admitted, "and so it proved.
Related: Shedden wins again at Thruxton
"So to come away with a fourth, a fifth, and second in the final race, and close the gap in the fight for the championship, is a terrific result.
"Conditions in the final race were tough — wet at the start, and then drying in the sun — so you had to really adjust to get the best out of the conditions.
"To get a podium, given the day I've had, is unexpected. Traditionally Croft is a better circuit for us, so hopefully we can up the pace again and get back on the top step of the podium."
For defending champ Jordan, it was a miserable weekend. The Honda driver struggled in all three races and could finish no higher than eighth. The results saw him slip to third in the championship, 18 behind Shedden.
While Aron Smith's VW fended off Shedden to win the final race by just 0.846s, it was another frustrating weekend for the Scot's team-mate Matt Neal.
The triple champ could only manage 14th and 12th in the opening two race respectively, before he crashed his Honda Tourer on the opening lap of the third race.
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Jim McGill