Photo: PSP Images

Gordon Shedden’s “impossible dream” comes true with second title

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Gordon Shedden was delighted to secure his second BTCC title at Brands Hatch after a champion’s drive from 19th on the grid to fourth at the finish line.

The Honda Yuasa Racing driver narrowly beat Team BMR’s Jason Plato to the title by just four points after his drive from the back, and was quick to praise his team for their part in his championship success.

“It seemed like the impossible dream at the start of race three to be so far back and Jason on the front row,” an overjoyed Shedden told TouringCarTimes. “It seemed like a blur of safety cars and overtaking in that race, it’s just incredible. I just can’t explain it, just teamwork at it’s best.

“The Type-R has come out this year, won the manufacturers’ championship and been right up there in the Drivers’ championship with both of us, it’s incredible. It belongs to the team, without them it does nothing, you’re only as good as the car you’re sat in and God these guys have given me an amazing bit of kit this year.”

The first eight laps of the race took place under safety car, with incidents meaning that not a full racing lap was completed until the third and final safety car period came to an end.

“I could see the laps ticking away and I kept thinking I’m going to run out of laps, I’m going to run out of laps,” explained Shedden. “It was just maximum attack from then on and go for every move, and to be fair people were very, very fair to me and gave me a bit of room, which was much appreciated.”

The final two laps saw an incredibly close battle between Shedden and Jack Goff, with the two very nearly coming together on multiple occasions, despite Shedden being mathematically secure if he finished behind the Triple Eight Racing MG.

“In the heat of the moment it becomes quite interesting, I was like ‘do I need to pass Goff or not’ and he was being quite defensive. In the end I thought I just can’t take the risk.

“20 years after John Cleland last won the title and I’ve equalled his tally… time flies when you’re having fun.”