Shedden fired up for homecoming 23 | 08 | 2014
BRITAIN'S FASTEST SALOON car series, the British Touring Car Championship, roars into action at Knockhill this weekend, and one Scot determined to give his home fans something to cheer about is Fifer Gordon Shedden (pictured).
The 35-year-old from Dalgety Bay, who won the title in 2012, has this year swapped his Honda Civic hatchback for a Civic estate.
But the change hasn't dulled Shedden's performances: he heads into Sunday's triple-header at the Fife circuit just 23 points off championship leader, former Knockhill race instructor Colin Turkington.
And Shedden knows he has a big opportunity to close the gap on his closest rival as the Irishman will have to deal with an eight-place grid penalty issued following a clash last time out at Snetterton.
"Obviously it's unfortunate that Colin has to serve a penalty, but I have to make sure I use his misfortune to my maximum advantage this weekend," Shedden said today.
"Qualifying at any race weekend is important, but for me it's crucial I qualify well on Saturday. I have to make sure I can maximise my performance, and that of the car and make sure we're either on pole, or at least on the front row."
And Shedden, one of four Scots on the BTCC grid — alongside Dalkeith's Aidan Moffat , Glynn Geddie from Aberdeen, and Inverness-based Dave Newsham — is hoping for better luck than 12 months ago.
"Last year I came into the Knockhill meeting 22 points off the lead, finished second and third in the opening two races, then was forced to retire from the third race when my car went up in flames," he continued.
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"Ultimately that proved costly because at the end of the season I missed out on the championship by just seven points.
"That shows you just how important finishing every race in the points is. So far this season I've managed to finish in the points in all the races, won twice — at Donington and Thruxton — and been on the podium on seven other occasions.
"But I'm taking nothing for granted. This weekend, like every BTCC weekend, is going to be tough: the competition's fierce. But believe me, I'll be doing everything I can to give the crowd something to cheer."
One man determined to spoil the party is Turkington. The 32-year-old from Portadown, who won the title in 2009 driving a BMW 320, has been impressive all season in his BMW 125M.
Six wins and a barrowload of podiums, boosted by the front-wheel drive supremacy of his BMW, means he heads into the final four rounds — at Knockhill, Rockingham, Silverstone and Brands Hatch — as slight favourite.
But, understandably, Turkington — whose penalty last time out at Snetterton ironically came when he clashed with Shedden's Honda team-mate Matt Neal — is playing his chances down.
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"Sure I've got a lead at the moment, but though it's 23 points, really it's a slender one," Turkington, who won twice at Knockhill last year, stated. "We've four rounds and 12 races still to go this season, so anything can happen.
"There's no denying the penalty for the first race this weekend is a blow, but it is what it is and we just need to get on with it.
"Knockhill suits the BMW, so I'll be taking a sensible approach to maximise my points haul through all three races, not just in race one.
"One thing's for sure, there's going to be some seriously exciting racing this weekend — there always is at Knockhill — but with the way the championship's standing, plus Gordon being in front of his home crowd, I'm expecting fireworks."
Those fireworks could be timely in a weekend of anniversaries. Not only is it Knockhill's 40th anniversary, but it also marks the 50th anniversary of Scotland's iconic double Formula One world champ Jim Clark winning the BTCC.
Since Clark powered his Lotus Cortina to the title in 1964, only double champ, Galashiels' John Cleland, and Shedden, are the only two other Scots to have lifted the title.
For Shedden — who formed part of the BTCC convoy which drove across the Forth Road Bridge on Thursday to celebrate 50 years since it opened —the significance of the results in Sunday's triple-header.
"This weekend is all about celebrating big landmarks in Scottish motorsport history," he concluded. "I've played a small part in it so far, but I'd love to use the celebrations as a springboard to winning the BTCC title again this year."
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Jim McGill