Shedden starts BTCC shootout seventhposted in BTCC01 | 10 | 2016

    DEFENDING CHAMP GORDON SHEDDEN will start the first of tomorrow’s final three races in the British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch from seventh on the 31-car grid.

    The 37-year-old from Auchterarder, bidding to overhaul an 11-point deficit to the BMW of championship leader Sam Tordoff, is the highest-placed of the title contenders.

    Shedden had originally qualified eighth, but was promoted one place after the Toyota of second-placed Tom Ingram was relegate after it failed a ride-height test at scrutineering.

    In a session punctuated by rain and a red flag stoppage, Shedden powered his Honda Civic to a best time of 1min 32.320secs on the 2.43-mile Kent circuit.

    “That was tough,” the double BTCC champ admitted. “My Honda’s carrying 66kg of success ballast, which is like having a passenger in the car, so to be eighth for the first race is great.

    Related: Shedden fired-up for BTCC title charge

    “Sam starts back in 10th, and he’s got the maximum 75kg to carry, so if I can stay out of trouble in the opening race we should be able to close the gap and then make a big push in the final two races.”

    Former Knockhill race instructor and double BTCC champ Colin Turkington starts from pole in his Subaru after clocking 1:31.838s, ahead of Rob Austin’s Toyota.

    Of the other title challengers, Shedden’s Honda team-mate Matt Neal, just two points adrift of the Scot in third, starts 11th, one place ahead of Rob Collard’s BMW. The Englishman is fourth in the title race, four points behind Neal.

    Shedden’s fellow Scot, 19-year-old Aiden Moffat from Dalkeith, qualified his Mercedes ninth.

    Related: Interview — Chris McMahon, Leven Car Company

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    Jim McGill

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