Published: Thursday, 30th August, 2007 12:00
Race ace goes for glory at Knockhill
By Sportsdesk
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WEST FIFE race ace Gordon Shedden says he will fight to the end to win this year’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship crown – even if he requires a miracle at his home track of Knockhill this Sunday to catch leaders Jason Plato and Fabrizio Giovanardi.
Shedden lies third in the BTCC standings in his Team Halfords Honda. But a bad run of luck early in the season has left the Dalgety Bay racer trailing Plato by 78 points with only 104 on offer from the remaining rounds at Knockhill and Thruxton, Hampshire, in October.
The 28-year-old said, “I need Jason and Fabrizio to go on holiday for a couple of months – either that, or they don’t make it through passport control when they arrive in Scotland!
“Only if they wipe out one another at Knockhill and I have three mega results would I have a chance of going to Thruxton still in with a chance of winning the title. But I’m sure they’ll both drive cleverly enough to make sure they finish every race.
“My circuit knowledge certainly doesn’t give me any advantage. At this level the top drivers learn a circuit within a few laps and in reality Jason has probably raced more laps around Knockhill than I have. Fabrizio had never seen the place before last year but still managed a race win.”
Shedden says he has far from settled for third in the final standings. He will still push to his maximum to achieve the best results possible at the circuit where he grew up watching racing cars.
If he was to become BTCC Champion – in what is only his second season in the championship – his name would join those such as former Scottish racing greats Jim Clark and John Cleland to lift what is the most coveted trophy in UK motor sport.
Shedden added, “I had a bad start to the season, but since then, whenever I’ve finished races, the results have always been top results. I want that to continue at Knockhill and Thruxton and then let’s see where we end up. I suppose right now I’ve nothing to lose and Jason and Fabrizio clearly have.
“I’ll try to hold on for as long as is possible. Anything can happen, as we all saw last weekend at Brands Hatch. You just need to get tangled up in another driver’s error and your weekend can suddenly nosedive. I can only gain from any slip-up by those two.”
Shedden has urged Scots motorsport fans to roar him on at his home track.
He said, “It’s the biggest motor racing event to take place in Scotland. There are so many touring car fans up here and the racing in 2007 has been fantastically close – it’s great Scotland has a chance to stage one of the BTCC’s ten meetings.
“In fact, it would be great to have more rounds as the spectators almost become part of the racing because they get so close to what’s happening on the track.
“From inside the car, on the warming up and slowing down laps you can sense the atmosphere off the spectator banks and that’s a real buzz for any driver.
“This is the only chance of the year that most people in Scotland have to see the BTCC. They really shouldn’t miss out because it’s a great experience. I hope they’ll be cheering for me.”
Shedden missed out on a win in front of his home crowd in 2006 but this year he has established himself as one of the top drivers in the BTCC with three race wins - that’s two more than his team-mate, the reigning champion Matt Neal – and two pole positions.
“I could probably understand if a few other drivers want me out of the way a bit because being at home gives you a strong feeling,” added Shedden.
“Of course I’d love to win at Knockhill. Hopefully it’s going to happen and hopefully it’ll be this time. It didn’t last year – I got turned around twice.
“To win in front of the home crowd, when all the other race meetings are outside Scotland, and to give the crowd something to get excited about would be awesome.”
The boss of British Touring Cars has singled out Knockhill as one of his favourites when it comes to viewing for fans.
BTCC series director Alan Gow said the circuit produces some of the most dramatic moments of the season.
Gow said, “The BTCC has been travelling to Knockhill since 1992, but each year the circuit still manages to take your breath away.
“It is in a stunning location and nowhere else allows fans to get so close to the cars.
“As a result, the atmosphere and excitement among the crowds at Knockhill ranks among the very best of any circuit on the BTCC calendar.
“To see the BTCC’s top drivers and cars giving it their all on what is a very dramatic circuit lay-out is a fantastic experience.
“If I had to pick out my favourite spot of any track, I’d say towards the entrance of Knockhill’s chicane – watching the cars appear through the first series of bends, often up on two wheels, then down the hill, through the dip and up the other side before coming past you, fully-committed over a blind brow is not just one of UK motor sport’s but one of UK sport’s greatest spectacles.”
The crowds will have an 11-race bill of action to savour on the day – in addition to the BTCC’s penultimate three rounds there will be further action from the supporting BMW, Porsche, SEAT and Legends championships.
Adding to the appeal is the BTCC’s open paddock which allows the public to mingle with the drivers and get a close-up look at the teams working on their cars.
Tickets for the event can be booked at discounted prices on the Knockhill circuit’s website www.knockhill.com. Admission for children aged seven and under is free.
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