Shedden bags BTCC title leadposted in BTCC04 | 09 | 2011
FIFER GORDON 'FLASH' SHEDDEN emerged from three incident-packed British Touring Car Championship races at Knockhill with a win, a podium and — most importantly — a single point advantage in the nailbiting race for the title.
The 32-year-old from Dalgety Bay, who entered the weekend eight points behind the Ford of championship leader Mat Jackson, remains on course to become the first Scot to lift the BTCC crown since John Cleland in 1995.
"To be honest, I'm not even thinking about that yet," Shedden admitted. "There's three meetings, nine races and 135 points still to be decided, so a lot can happen yet.
"But there's no denying it's terrific to be leaving my home event leading the championship. There'll be a little bit of celebrating tonight, but we know there's a lot of hard work still to be done."
To make Shedden's position even more precarious, his nearest challenger in the championship is his own Honda Racing team-mate, double BTCC champ Matt Neal.
See more photos of 'Flash" at Knockhill today
"We're leading the manufacturers' championship, so that's great for Honda," Shedden continued, "and now it looks as though Matt and I are going to be fighting it out for the drivers' title. It's going to be a hell of a fight to the end of the season."
Shedden was left slightly frustrated after the day's opening race when, despite hounding the rear bumper of Neal's car throughout the 27 laps, he couldn't find a way past. Polesitter Tom Chilton held off the two Hondas to take the win.
In the second race, Chilton again started from pole but this time, handicapped by carrying 45kgs of success ballast, he made a mistake on the 20th of the 27 laps of the 1.3-mile Fife circuit and allowed the two Hondas to pass.
One lap later, Shedden pounced on Neal. The Fifer carried more speed through the Chicane and eased passed his more experienced team-mate.
"It was brilliant hearing the crowd roar," a delighted Shedden continued after claiming his fourth win of the season, the 19th of his BTCC career.
"It really felt as if though they were driving the race with me. It was unbelievable. To win at home, in Scotland, at Knockhill is just absolutely awesome."
In the day's final reverse grid race, Shedden started seventh, one place behind Neal. The two Honda's fought their way through to finish fourth and fifth respectively behind the Seat Leon of provisional race winner Tom Boardman.
The controversial race though was not without controversy. Polesitter and defending champ Jason Plato was pitched into a high speed crash when his Chevrolet was rammed up the rear by Boardman at the foot of Duffus Dip.
Edinburgh's controversial tramwork to restart
"That's it, my championship's over now," a furious Plato, who entered the weekend fourth in the title race, 12 points behind Shedden, said. "What am I now; 35 points behind? I've no chance."
The Oxford driver wasn't the only one to have a miserable weekend in the Scottish sunshine. Jackson, who came to Knockhill confident of building on his championship lead, failed to finish any of the three races.
But Shedden wasn't the only Scot to shine at Knockhill. Scotland's leading sportscar team, St Cyrus-based Celtic Speed, took three wins in the Porsche Carrera Cup.
While Kirkcaldy 24-year-old Rory Butcher won the Porsche Pro-Am1 race, Edinburgh's George Brewster won both Pro-Am2 races with team-mate Tommy Dreelan from Aberdeen taking a podium finish.
In the Ginetta Junior Championship, Charlie Robertson, the 14-year-old from Stirling, finished third, just 4.229s behind Struan Moore and race winner George Gamble to consolidate his third place in the championship.
And Marino Franchitti, more used to racing in the States, finished third in the Ginetta Supercup. The Bathgate racer, brother of IndyCar champ Dario and cousin of F1 driver Paul di Resta, was competing at Knockhill for the first time in 10 years.
Elsewhere former BTCC racer, Kirkcaldy's Jonny Adam, claimed victory in the latest round of the British GT Championship.
The Scot, partnered by Andrew Howard, powered his Beechdean Aston Martin to a 41.965s win at Rockingham.
Colin McRae Vision joins RallyScotland
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/scotcars
Jim McGill