GORDON SHEDDEN reached a half century of Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship victories on a landmark afternoon last Sunday.

The 42-year-old, a three-time series champion, triumphed in the opening two races of the 2021 season's penultimate weekend at Donnington Park.

And, in each of those wins, he was joined on the podium by brother-in-law, Rory Butcher, who maintained his fine form with two third places, and a fourth, on the back of his own double victory last time out at Silverstone.

Although winning the drivers' title is now beyond the pair ahead of the season finale at Brands Hatch GP, on October 23-24, the duo are well placed to finish in the top 10 of the standings.

'Flash', who won the title in 2012, 2015 and 2016, went into the event seeking his first race win of the season, and gave himself the ideal opportunity by taking pole position for the opener.

With a commanding lights-to-flag performance, the Halfords with Cataclean driver took victory with a gap of 1.331 seconds ahead of Daniel Lloyd, while Butcher, from fourth position and with 27kg of success ballast on board his Toyota Corolla, outfoxed two-time champion Jason Plato for third in the opening lap, and held on to reach the podium.

The weight on Toyota Gazoo Racing UK driver Butcher's car increased to 57kg for race two but he went on the offensive immediately, rising to second at the start before relieving Shedden of top spot.

A counter-attack saw Shedden regain the initiative, who took the second bout when on-road winner Tom Ingram was penalised for gaining an unfair advantage mid-distance during a tussle for the lead.

Ingram took second as Butcher held off late pressure from another former champion, Colin Turkington, to seal his sixth rostrum appearance of 2021.

There was to be no hat-trick of wins for Shedden in race three, as he placed 13th, but Butcher, from ninth on the partially-reversed grid, scythed through for a fine fourth place.

That has put the 34-year-old sixth in the standings on 250 points, two places and 28 points better off than Shedden.

"I would never say it was comfortable but it was nice to start from the front, get into turn one and just manage the pace as best I could," Shedden reflected.

"Dan (Loyd) was pushing hard, I could see Rory coming ... it was that onslaught after the safety car but the Civic was great. Really, really good. What a boost for the team; it’s been a little bit up and down over the last couple of races but to start at the front and get my first race wins of the year is absolutely superb.

"I keep talking about momentum so hopefully we can keep that up towards the end of the season."

Butcher added: "It was fantastic to come away from Donington with two more podiums. We’re definitely building momentum now and have got a really good rhythm going. We’ve just kept our heads down and focused on our own performance, and I’m very proud of everybody in the team."