Dunfermline Press | Sport | Contract hope for Shedden

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 4th January, 2007 12:00

Contract hope for Shedden

By Sportsdesk

RACE ACE Gordon Shedden is hoping to clinch a new contract to race again for reigning British Touring Car champions Team Halfords.

Shedden helped Halfords retain the title in a phenomenally successful tin top debut season last time out and it’s given him a taste for more.

His four victories – including a famous double at Donnington – is the most wins by anyone in a debut touring cars season and he also finished the campaign with the highest number of fastest race laps with nine.

He finished fourth in the overall drivers standings and is currently in negotiations with the independent drivers and team champions to race for them again next season.

“It’s all up in the air until the team decides what car it’s going to use next season,” Shedden told Press Sport.

“Negotiations are going well and things are looking good. There’s a few things still to be worked on but I’m hoping it can be sorted out soon.

“They’re the double champions, the winning team for the last two years, and there’s a really good atmosphere in the team,” he explained.

“If I can be part of that next year I think it would be the best place to advance my career.”

Since the close of the touring cars season, Shedden has also shone in his single-seater debut, racing against 170 other Formula Ford 1600s at Silverstone’s annual Walter Hayes Formula Ford meeting.

He was impressive in beating many more experienced Formula Ford drivers and challenging for a top-six finish in the final before crashing out.

“It was a trip into the unknown but it was really good fun,” Shedden said. “I didn’t even see the car until 1.30am when we got to Silverstone on the day of the event. Even to make it to the final was a bit of a revelation.

“It’s a different technique in motor sport and, although it was interesting, I’m not tempted to give up the day job yet.”

That day job, away from life in the fast lane in the touring cars championship, is his role as business development manager at Knockhill Racing Circuit.

The BTCC recently revealed its 2007 race calendar with Knockhill the penultimate round on the weekend of 1st-2nd September.

“It’s a fantastic coup for us,” Shedden said. “By that stage, the championship will hopefully be building up to a really exciting end.

“It would be great to have a championship decided in Scotland and if I’m in with a shout, even better.”