Shedden clinches second BTCC title 11 | 10 | 2015

    FIFER GORDON SHEDDEN clinched his second British Touring Car Championship with the "drive of his life" in today's season finale at Brands Hatch.

    The 36-year-old from Dalgety Bay, who won the title in 2012, arrived at the Kent circuit leading his nearest rival, double champ Jason Plato, by 23 points.

    But after finishing sixth in the day's opener, immediately behind Plato in fifth, Shedden could only manage 19th in the second race after his Honda suffered rear brake problems.

    With Plato finishing sixth, the Volkswagen driver had slashed the deficit to just 12 points. More concerningly for Shedden was the fact he now started from 19th on the grid for the final race, while Plato was on the front row.

    After three Safety Car periods, Shedden had 10 laps of the season remaining and was stuck in 12th, while Plato — who went on to complete the 94th BTCC win of his career — led.

    But undaunted, the Scot — who now joins Galashiels veteran John Cleland with two BTCC crowns — seared through the field in an epic drive to eventually finish fourth.

    Related: Shedden on verge of BTCC title

    The result ensured Shedden sealed the championship by just four points at the end of a 30-race campaign.

    "That was awesome, just awesome," an understandably emotional Shedden, wiping tears from his eyes and hugged by his wife Jillian, said.

    "That was the drive of my life. To win the championship having started from basically the back row of the grid in the final race of the season: wow, it just doesn't get any better.

    "I don't think I've ever been as fired-up in car to deliver a result as I was when I sat on the grid for the start of the final race.

    "I was just desperate to try and pull something out of the bag, and with all the Safety Cars I was convinced we'd run out of laps, but wow, that was fantastic.

    "I couldn't back off towards the end because I was in just such a naturally aggressive rhythm, and I felt that was the safest way: just kept attacking."

    "I've been up and down all day, but that's the real emotions of touring cars. With Jason starting from the front row, and me essentially on the back row, it just seemed an impossible task.

    "But my Honda was on fire with no ballast in it, and sportingly, everyone gave me a fair bit of room out there. I'm just dead chuffed. Honestly, you can't believe how good I feel."

    Related: Mull Rally fatality

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

    Jim McGill

     

User Comments

Login or register to post comments.