GORDON SHEDDEN is hoping for a change in fortune as he continues his pursuit of a second successive British Touring Car Championship title.

The Dalgety Bay racer has had a mixed start to the defence of his maiden BTCC crown and sits fourth in the standings, 29 points behind current leader and Honda Yuasa team-mate Matt Neal.

While he has claimed two race victories and a further six podium finishes, 'Flash' has also had four non-finishes and is looking for lady luck to smile on him as the rest of the season unfolds.

He told Press Sport, "There hasn't been one thing or another that's been going wrong, it's just the nature of the beast that sometimes you don't get a bit of luck.

"The car has been great, the Honda Civic has been showing that the speed is there as when I have been finishing, I've been finishing on the podium.

"It's about making the best of what you've got and we've got good pace.

"Hopefully, some of the other drivers will have a bit of a downturn." After a disappointing start at Brands Hatch, where he could only muster a second place finish in the final race of the weekend, Knockhill-based Shedden has pulled himself firmly into contention for what looks like a four way title fight also involving Neal, Andrew Jordan and Jason Plato.

Strong showings at Donnington Park and Thruxton, along with two podium places last time out at Oulton Park, has given the 34-year-old belief that he will be in the reckoning for the title.

The BTCC season reaches its halfway point this weekend at Croft near Darlington, where Shedden secured a win and a podium place last year. And he is hopeful things will go his way again this weekend.

He said, "Having four non-finishes has cost me but hopefully the tables will turn.

"Two no-scores at Brands Hatch made it difficult but traditionally I've never started that strongly.

"We're not even halfway through the season - there are still 18 races to go so I'm relaxed that things will turn around.

"Although at times it has been difficult, I'm still within a race away of leading so I should still be right there.

"Croft is probably the closest race to Scotland apart from Knockhill and I had a strong race there last year, so hopefully that can continue and I need things to start falling my way.

"But you've only got to be leading at the end of the final race. I'm still in with a shout and so long as I have a chance going into the final weekend then I'll be happy."