DALGETY BAY race ace Gordon Shedden is one of four famous Fifers unveiled by the council as ambassadors for the Kingdom.

The 2012 British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) winner joined Kingsbarns Distillery’s Doug Clement, chef and food writer Christopher Trotter and FunkyEllas travel blogger Nicola Holland in accepting the role to promote the area at home and abroad.

Shedden said, “Growing up in Dunfermline and living only five miles from Knockhill was a huge boost to my racing career. From a small boy watching motor racing at Knockhill with my dad, to living every boy’s dream, racing has always been my passion. Being a Fife ambassador is a great honour to help make people aware just how much the Kingdom has to offer.” Tourism is worth around £313million annually to the Fife economy and the race ace, one of only three Scots to win the prestigious BTCC championship, was selected as part of a plan to create a network of “inspirational individuals who represent Fife’s many faces” and “share a passion for the Kingdom”.

The 36-year-old combines his motorsport career with his role as business development manager at Knockhill Racing Circuit, which has been Scotland’s national motorsport centre for over 40 years and hosts a number of the UK’s top televised motorsport and bike events, including a round of the BTCC, attracting 150,000 visitors annually.

Depute council leader Lesley Laird added, “Ambassadors perform a valuable role in promoting the region and we’re delighted to have such inspirational people on board. We have so much to shout about in Fife and through sharing this passion for the Kingdom, our ambassadors are offering to lend their support to our efforts to increase Fife’s reputation and profile.”