Published: Thursday, 23rd April, 2009 11:40am

Touring Cars driver left "high and dry" after being dropped

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DALGETY BAY racer Gordon Shedden has told Press Sport of his shock and dismay at being dumped from his British Touring Car team in favour of former champion James Thompson.

Shedden only found out he was to be replaced by Team Dynamics for the next round of races at Thruxton, Hampshire, this Sunday 10 minutes before the announcement was made and has now been left 'high and dry' as he fears he may not find himself another drive for the rest of the year.

He may not have got off to the best of starts this season after crashing in the very first race at Brands Hatch three weeks ago but Shedden was still optimistic for the year ahead.

Yorkshireman Thompson, who has not contested the series since 2006, won the drivers" title in 2002 and 2004 with 33 race wins to his credit and tested in Dynamics" Honda Civic over the winter months.

Shedden, who is business development manager at Knockhill racing circuit, said, 'I think it is to do with a previous agreement with James Thompson in November last year saying if money was in place and he wanted to drive one of the cars this year then he could.

"He has exercised that option which leaves me high and dry.

'I knew nothing about the agreement.

"So as far as I was concerned I had an agreement for the year which is bitterly disappointing as all the other drives are taken now so it leaves me scratching, trying to piece something together.

'I only found out literally 10 minutes before the press release came out so it was that much of a shock to me and I knew nothing.

"I"m now trying to phone as many people as possible to see what or if any opportunities are out there.'

Dynamics team principal Steve Neal claimed the team were trying to negotiate further sponsorship to run a third car for Shedden alongside Thompson and David Pinkney.

Neal said, 'This change in our driver line-up has come about due to contractual commitments.

"Gordon has been part of Dynamic since 2006 and has been a great performer for us.

"James" addition to the Dynamics line-up, meanwhile, is one I have personally hoped for since Matt (Neal) moved to the VX Racing team at the end of 2007.'

Shedden said, 'If money for a third car is available then great but teams are struggling to piece together enough money to run two cars this year so it may be wishful thinking but you never know.

"We"ll just have to see what happens as the year goes on. I didn"t expect to be in this position so it"s caught me by surprise.'

Despite the sudden change in circumstances relations between Shedden and the team are still cordial.

'We have not fallen out, it is not a personal thing, just that Steve has made his decision of where he wants to go and how he thinks the team can move forward and I"m not part of it this time,' he said.