Shedden starts sixth at Rockinghamposted in BTCC17 | 09 | 2011

FIFER GORDON SHEDDEN saw his British Touring Car Championship hopes dented when he could only qualify sixth on the grid for tomorrow's opening race at Rockingham in Northamptonshire.

The 32-year-old from Dalgety Bay's performance came at the end of a week in which championship organisers, TOCA, controversially reduced the turbo power of his Honda Civic.

But the session —which saw former champ Jason Plato, the driver instrumental in calling for the turbo reduction, put his non-turbo Chevrolet on pole — ended with a heated exchange between the Oxford racer and Shedden's Honda team-mate Matt Neal.

Fourth-placed Neal, who trails the Scot by just one point at the head of the title race, twice had his Honda hit by Plato's car on the final lap.

Gordon Shedden confirmed at Honda for 2012

When both drivers got out their cars after returning to the pitlane, harsh words were exchanged (pictured) between the two long-time rivals. The pair eventually had to be separated by their team bosses.

Both incidents between them, on and off the track, have been referred to the championship stewards for investigation. As a consequence the qualifying results have been deemed 'provisional'.

Plato, who this week was appointed a board director of the famed British Racing Drivers Club and who posted a fastest lap of 1min 23.745secs, starts the race 35 points behind Shedden.

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/scotcars

Jim McGill