Shedden eyeing BTCC crownposted in BTCC18 | 10 | 2012
FIFER GORDON SHEDDEN bids to enter the history books on Sunday by becoming only the third Scot to win the British Touring Car Championship.
Twelve months ago the 33-year-old from Dalgety Bay was only denied the title by his Honda Racing team-mate, Matt Neal. The fact the Honda's are prepared by Team Dynamics, run by the Neal family, was always going to be a hurdle Shedden couldn't overcome in the final three-race shoot-out.
This year though, the Scot — who bids to join 1995 winner, Galashiels-based John Cleland, and F1 legend Jim Clark as Scots winners of the touring car crown — heads into the final triple-header leading his team-mate by 31 points.
But with a maximum of 60 points available at Brands Hatch in next Sunday's showdown, the biggest threat to Shedden's hopes is likely to be the MG of double champ Jason Plato. The Oxford driver is just 15 points adrift of the Scot.
"Obviously it's going to be a tough weekend," Shedden admitted today, "but that's what you would expect at the end of the season in the most competitive championship in Britain.
"Realistically, all three of us could win the title on Sunday, but I have to believe this is my best opportunity to lift the championship."
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Certainly on paper, Shedden is the man to beat. While Plato and Neal have won six and four races respectively this season, the Flying Fifer has stood on the top step of the podium eight times.
But Shedden is mature enough to realise he can take nothing for granted when the red lights go out to start the final three races.
"Look at what happened to Matt last weekend at Silverstone," he continued. "He failed to score in any of the three races. That could just easily happen to me at Brands.
"Obviously I feel my chance is slightly better than Matt's this year: we've really just got to make sure we get one of the Honda's across the line first."
And Shedden acknowledges he's in a better phase of his career to cope with the huge pressure which will surround him at Brands.
"I think I'm better prepared than I've ever been," the Knockhill director explained. "I think I've driven well this year, and I've improved.
"It wasn't enough to win last year, but I think I've made another step forward this year. Hopefully it's a big enough step to win the title."
Of course, given the quirks of BTCC rulings, anything could yet happen. While Plato and Neal carry 36kgs and 27kgs of 'success' ballast through qualifying and the opening race, Shedden is lumbered with 45kgs.
"It's equivalent to having another small person in the car with you," he laughed. "But those are the rules and I just need to get on with it.
"I've always said, you need three things to win this championship: you need a great car, and we've got that. You need a great team, and we've got that. And you need a bit of luck, and that's the thing I can't control.
"Now all I can do is go out, do my best, and hope I can join one of the most exclusive motorsport clubs in Scotland."
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Jim McGill