It wouldn’t be right to have a BTCC round at Knockhill and not have a feature on Gordon Shedden, so here goes!
Last year Gordon Shedden became only the third Scot to lift the British Touring Car Championship title and this weekend will see the Dalgety Bay flyer, return to his home track for another assault on the prestigious tin-top trophy. A partisan welcome is expected for the Honda Yuasa racer who heads into this weekend, more than most, with a spring-in-his-step.
“It’s great for me to race in front of my home crowd. It doesn’t necessarily make me go any faster, but it does make it a great weekend all the same. And to be returning as defending Champion, knowing that only two other Scots have won the Championship, makes it extra special,” said Shedden.
Shedden’s passion for touring car racing started at Knockhill, he fondly recalls being a young lad standing in the crowds when Tarquini, Menu and Cleland battled for supremacy in 1994. Cleland, another Scot to claim the BTCC championship, went on to amass two BTCC titles and Shedden; definitely wants to emulate one of his all-time racing heroes.
“I’ve not had the best of title defences so far. However, I’m right up there at the minute and desperately want to win. I know Matt wants it back, and Jason is his usual competitive self, there are also a few others who are well capable of pulling some results together, to be in with a shout, come the end of the season.”
“As for the weekend, I have a feeling it’s going to be a wild one. Knockhill always provides some thrilling racing and my Honda Civic is going really well at the moment, a strong points-hall is a must this weekend, but you just never-know what to expect in the BTCC,” he concluded.
Knockhill does indeed tend to throw some unpredictable results; Jason Plato endured a torturous weekend last year and Shedden himself, suffered the wrath of the uncompromising Knockhill track during the final outing of last year’s event; eventually retiring his labouring Honda after an off road excursion at the Arnold Clark Chicane.
This weekend will see a 15 race programme take place on the 1.3 mile circuit. Starring alongside the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship; we will have superb support racing from the Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain, Ginetta Junior Championship, Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup, Porsche Carrera Cup and what could potentially be the most action-packed series of the weekend; the Celtic Speed Mini Cooper Cup.
Tickets are available now via the Knockhill website and will also be available at the gate all weekend.
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