Published: Thursday, 6th September, 2007 12:00
Shedden clinches win on home circuit
By Sports Desk
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Pic by: Sports Desk
RACE ace Gordon ‘Flash’ Shedden was accompanied onto the winners’ podium by a rendition of ‘Scotland the Brave’ at a sun-drenched Knockhill on Sunday.
The West Fife flyer thrilled the crowds by winning the final race of three at his home circuit, which was staging the penultimate rounds of the British Touring Cars Championship.
With just one meeting, at Brands Hatch next month, left to race, Shedden lies third in the drivers championship and admitted winning in front of his home fans was “out of this world”.
“I was quick here last year and things conspired against me and with a non-finish in race one I thought I was on for the same bad luck again,” Shedden said afterwards.
“To be forced to retire from that race was soul destroying as I was quicker than Darren (Turner) and I think I could have romped away to victory.
“However, to come back to take a win in race three is great. Knockhill in the sunshine with a large crowd, is there a better place to do it?”
It didn’t look like it was going to be Shedden’s day when contact with SEAT driver Turner while going for the lead at the Hairpin on lap 18 forced the Knockhill business development manager to retire from the first race.
Starting from 12th on the grid for race two, Shedden started to make up places quickly and was into the top six by the end of the second lap. Battling through the field and making up further positions as the race progressed, he capped a fine recovery drive to finish the second race in fourth, pressurising title hopeful Fabrizio Giovanardi right to the flag in the fight for a podium place.
Starting his final chance for home glory from fifth on the grid in race three, Shedden eased past points leader Jason Plato into fourth on the opening lap and within a lap had climbed into third. Shedden took the lead from team mate Matt Neal on lap 16 at Carlube and went on to take his first touring cars win on home soil .
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Further Details
Pars rule out standing at East End Park