Shedden bids for more winsposted in BTCC02 | 05 | 2014
FIFER GORDON SHEDDEN aims to build on his stunning last-gasp win a fortnight ago — watch the video below — at Donington when he tackles the latest British Touring Car Championship triple-header at Thruxton.
The 35-year-old from Dalgety Bay, who won the title for Honda in 2012, heads into this weekend's meeting just one point off the championship lead.
The Scot was more than five-seconds behind the BMW of race leader, former Knockhill race instructor Colin Turkington, with five laps of the final race at Donington remaining.
In an audacious move (pictured) at the final corner of the final lap, Shedden — driving his Honda Civic Tourer — muscled his way past in the Irishman to take a sensational win.
“To win race three at Donington was absolutely awesome,” the Scot beamed today. “Every win you achieve is rewarding, but that one was particularly special for a couple of reasons.
"Firstly, we made a bit of history as the first Tourer ever to win a touring car race, which was no mean feat in itself, and secondly, it was just a cracking race, probably one of the best I’ve ever driven.
Related: Shedden's last-gasp stunner at Donington
"I had to come from some way back, and it’s not often you pass so many champions and winners in such a short space of time – and what a climax from the crowd’s point-of-view, going right down to the last corner on the last lap of the day.
“Now, I’m really looking forward to Thruxton this weekend. It’s a fantastic circuit and one that poses a genuine challenge.
"The racing is always very close with all the slip-streaming that goes on, and the number of quick corners means you really need to be at one with your car. The paradox is that although it’s the fastest circuit we go to, you don’t necessarily have to have the out-and-out fastest car to win there.
“As a driver, you tend to breathe a sigh of relief if you get to the end of the race at Thruxton and you’ve still got four tyres and some air pressure inside them.
" Historically, I’ve had a decent run there in the Civic hatchback and the Civic Tourer should be a pretty potent weapon, so I’m returning full of confidence.”
Shedden faces stiff competition this weekend from not only his Honda team-mate, triple BTCC champ Matt Neal, but also current championship leaders and former champs, Andrew Jordan (Honda) and Jason Plato (MG).
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/scotcars
Jim McGill