Shedden switches to WTCR with Audi 15 | 02 | 2018
SCOTLAND’S THREE-TIME British Touring Car champ, Gordon Shedden, has confirmed his switch to this season’s inaugural FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR). The 38-year-old from Auchterarder will drive an Audi RS3 LMS for the Belgian WRT Racing team. (Related: Three-time champ Shedden leaves BTCC)
“The switch to WTCR was quite unexpected but comes at a perfect time in my career,” Shedden — who contested the final round of the TCR International Series last year in Dubai, taking pole position and finishing second — said today.
“I had a fantastic time in BTCC, winning three Championships and becoming only the third Scottish driver to win the Championship alongside Jim Clark and John Cleland. (Related: Shedden reflects on triple BTCC title)
“The Audi RS 3 LMS is a phenomenal piece of kit. And as the old saying goes, ‘if it looks good it will perform good’. The RS3 saloon is a ‘global’ car, compared to the many ‘hatchbacks’ competing. It has a unique silhouette which makes it instantly recognisable.
“Meanwhile WRT is a very successful team with a long and flourishing partnership with Audi Sport and its customer racing division. They’ve won the Spa 24Hrs and the Bathurst 12Hrs in the GT3 category, and so for me it was a very logical decision to join the Belgian team.”
As an Audi Sport driver, Shedden will partner French team-mate Jean-Karl Vernay (pictured in action below). The 30-race season is scheduled to begin in Marrakech over the weekend of April 7-8, and close at the Circuito da Guia in Macau, November 15-18.
The Macau finale takes place on what is accepted as the world’s most challenging street course and a touring car venue for more than half a century. The championship also visits Argentina, China, Germany, Hungary, Japan, the Netherlands and Portugal.
Sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the WTCR becomes the highest class of competition for touring cars, taking over from the World Touring Car Championship having adopted the TCR technical regulations this year.
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Jim McGill