Shedden starts P5 at Oulton: Moffat P3posted in BTCC20 | 05 | 2017

DEFENDING CHAMP GORDON SHEDDEN will start from the third row of the grid for the first of tomorrow’s British Touring Car Championship triple-header at Oulton Park.

The 38-year-old from Auchterarder clocked a personal best of 1min 26.612secs on the 2.2-mile Cheshire circuit, to finish just 0.461s behind polesitter and Honda team-mate Matt Neal.

“Considering I’m carrying 66kg success ballast and Matt has only 27kg, I’m delighted with fifth-fastest,” Shedden, who starts today second in the title race, 17 points behind the Toyota of Tom Ingram, stated.

“To be honest, I’m slightly further up the grid than I thought I’d be, and it really puts me in a good position to maximise the points haul over the three races.

“This is a tough place to overtake, so qualifying was crucial this weekend. I have to admit to being pretty delighted.”

And while former Knockhill race instructor Colin Turkington starts fourth in his BMW, edging out Shedden by just 0.003s, Scots young gun Aiden Moffat qualified third-fastest.

The 20-year-old from Dalkeith, who bagged the first win of his BTCC career earlier this season at Donington Park, was understandably delighted.

“I’m chuffed to bits,” the Mercedes driver, who finished just 0.249s behind Neal, admitted. “We struggled with the car here last year, so to be on the second row of the grid for the first race on Sunday is brilliant.”

Neal, who also qualified on pole position last time out at Thruxton, where he went on to win the 60th race of his BTCC career, lines up alongside the BMW of former champ Andrew Jordan. Championship leader Ingram starts 12th.

Related: Shedden targets BTCC points haul at Oulton

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Jim McGill