Shedden sets early paceposted in BTCC25 | 08 | 2012
FIFER GORDON SHEDDEN set the pace in today's opening free practice session ahead of the British Touring Car Championship triple-header at Knockhill. But while it was a positive outing for the Scot, there were problems for his Honda team-mate and current series leader Matt Neal.
In cool but dry conditions, the 33-year-old from Dalgety Bay dipped beneath the existing qualifying record as he set a best time of 52.994s in his Honda Racing Civic around Knockhill’s twisting, undulating 1.2-mile lap. He was the only driver to dip beneath the 53-seconds barrier.
Shedden was followed by Tom Onslow-Cole and Robert Collard in their BMWs, while returnee Paul O’Neill was fourth in his Toyota Avensis. Andrew Jordan (Pirtek Racing Civic) and Jason Plato (MG6) completed the top six.
Shedden eyeing exclusive club membership
Neal’s Honda, though, was plagued by both a turbo boost problem and sluggish throttle response and he was only 14th fastest, more than a second adrift of his team-mate.
And despite setting the fastest time Shedden was not entirely satisfied.
“It’s not bad, but we’ve still got work to do to get the car right," he said, "because the pace is definitely going to get faster later on. I’d call it ‘work in progress’ at the moment…”
Notably all four NGTC Civics of Shedden, Neal, Jordan and his team-mate Jeff Smith (12th fastest) were slowest of all through both speed traps.
Meanwhile, following his first race win at Snetterton a fortnight ago, many eyes were on Inverness’s Dave Newsham who was in his Team ES Racing Vauxhall. He ended the session ninth fastest, although team-mate Chris James was left crawling back to the pit lane with a flat tyre on his car.
British Touring Car Championship, Knockhill — Practice (Top 10 Times):
1. Gordon Shedden, Honda 52.944;
2. Tom Onslow-Cole, BMW +0.203;
3. Robert Collard, BMW +0.302;
4. Paul O Neill, Toyota +0.406;
5. Andrew Jordan, Honda +0.500;
6. Jason Plato, MG6 +0.554;
7. Nick Foster, BMW +0.576;
8. Adam Morgan, Toyota +0.828;
9. Dave Newsham, Vauxhall +0.969;
10. Aron Smith +0.985.
Inverness-based Dave Newsham eyeing BTCC win No2
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Jim McGill