Shedden reflects on triple BTCC titleposted in BTCC04 | 10 | 2016
FORTY-EIGHT HOURS after clinching his third British Touring Car Championship, and second in succession, in dramatic fashion at Brands Hatch, Gordon Shedden let us into one of the secrets of his success … Tunnock’s Teacakes. (Related: How Gordon Shedden won third BTCC title)
In the final race of the season, the 37-from Auchterarder needed to overcome a two point deficit to championship leader Sam Tordoff.
Shedden, who started from fifth on the reverse grid, two places behind the BMW driver, made the all-important move by his rival on lap seven.
The duo were tussling over third place with Mat Jackson and Aiden Moffat already up the road but, watched by 45,000 fans, Shedden hauled his Honda Civic Type R down the inside of Tordoff’s Team JCT600 with GardX machine on the run down to Clearways (pictured above), before completing the move on the exit of Clark Curve.
Shedden fended off further attacks and even a late safety car period to maintain third position, superbly securing the title in the process.
The Scot’s success was all the more impressive as he became the first driver to win back-to-back titles since Fabrizio Giovanardi in 2007 and 2008. Shedden all became the first Scot to win the title three times, overtaking double winner John Cleland, and F1 legend Jim Clark.
“It’s unbelievable – an incredible feeling,” Shedden said. “I’d actually been really relaxed all weekend, but even going into race three, I thought it was going to be very difficult – and it was!
“It was a shame my team-mate Matt (Neal) couldn’t join in because of the concussion he suffered in Race 2 – it would have been good to have him up there pushing for the title too, because we both had really strong pace on race day.
“The Civic Type R was mint throughout — as it has been all season — and once again, I really stuck my neck on the line and made some bold, heart-in-the-mouth moves that were on the edge more often than not.
“After Croft in June, it looked like we were down-and-out in the title battle, but we stuck to our guns, kept plugging away and gave it absolutely everything to claw our way back. It just goes to show that every single point really does count in this championship.
“Winning the BTCC title for the first time felt phenomenal, last year was a real rollercoaster ride and this year it was just a huge release of emotion. And how did I celebrate: with a few cups of tea and a Tunnock’s Teacake ...”
Related: Shedden fired-up for BTCC title charge
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Jim McGill