Halfords Yuasa Racing star Gordon Shedden kept firmly in touch of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship title with a second-place finish in the final race at his home track of Knockhill. Matt Neal also drove his way into the points in two of the three rounds to keep within touching-distance of the top three drivers in the table and ensure the battle for the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ titles stays very much alive.
The weekend started with a frenetic qualifying session as a damp track developed a dry line in the final minutes of the half hour session. Triple champion Shedden, on home soil, was disappointed to have qualified his Honda Civic Type R in ninth place, believing the car to be capable of better – his inability to find space for a strong lap was to blame. Meanwhile, Neal qualified in 21st – his switch to slick tyres just a little too late.
As championship leader following the recent event at Snetterton, Flash was hampered by 75kg of success ballast in Round 19 and battled around the short, tight Knockhill track to 11th.
Fellow three-time title winner Neal was on a charge from 21st and scythed his way through the field to an impressive ninth.
The momentum was to come to a standstill however in race two, when the West Midlands driver was tapped out of a dramatic battle for eighth by Josh Price. Meanwhile, Shedden kept up the challenge for championship spoils with a solid drive to sixth and ten much-needed points.
The trip to Scotland did end on a high for local hero, Shedden, taking the podium and a strong haul of points, with a third consecutive crown still very much in sight as the team head to Rockingham in Northamptonshire in two weeks’ time.
Neal finished his weekend with a valiant fightback drive through the field to take eighth.
Gordon Shedden
“This is my home track and we obviously came here with hopes of a win and sending the fans home happy, but with the tricky qualifying session and the ballast in the car it was about getting as many points as possible to keep my championship challenge on course. It was good to end the day with a podium and second spot, and it was great to see such a huge crowd come out here at Knockhill. Onwards and upwards to Rockingham.”
Matt Neal
“Despite a poor qualifying session and the knock in the second race, I did have an enjoyable weekend driving through the field in two of the three races today – it’s always a real scrap. The car felt quick but we were always on the back foot with the advantage of the rear wheel drive cars and a fight back through the midfield. There’s a long way to go and we are in a good position.”
Drivers’ Standings
1. Colin Turkington, 265
2. Ashley Sutton, 261
3. Gordon Shedden, 253
4. Rob Collard, 248
5. Tom Ingram, 204
6. Matt Neal, 172
Manufacturers’ Standings
1. BMW, 589 points
2. Honda, 513
3. Subaru, 511
4. Vauxhall, 389
5. MG, 243
Teams’ Standings
1. Team BMW, 501 points
2. Halfords Yuasa Racing, 420
3. Adrian Flux Subaru Racing, 363
4. Speedworks Motorsport, 202
5. Eurotech Racing, 161
6. Team Shredded Wheat Racing with Duo, 160
